Deborah Farmer Kris and Tracy Patton

Join the conversation at noon, and then come have some messy fun in-person with Tracy Patton at 5:30. Click above to download the PDF flyer.

SENSORY PLAY TO HELP KIDS THRIVE
• 5:30pm-7pm at Deer Grove Leisure Center,
Bensenville
• Experience mess making in action with this free
hands-on workshop designed for parents,
caregivers, and children 0-5.
• Registration required – email Kate Estrada for more
information at [email protected]

Awe is more than a moment of wonder—it’s a powerful feeling and tool for connection and growth. Research shows that experiencing awe, even in everyday life, boosts physical and emotional well-being, strengthens relationships, and helps children develop curiosity, motivation, and emotional regulation.

Author Deborah Farmer Kris will share research-based strategies to help parents and guardians spark awe-filled moments that enhance empathy, patience, and creativity in children. She’ll offer practical ways to weave awe-seeking behaviors into both playtime and quiet time, so families can enjoy more joy and connection together.

Joining the conversation, Tracy Patton— a nationally recognized early childhood consultant and joyful “mess maker”— will explore how awe can be infused into sensory play, storytelling, social emotional learning and hands-on family activities that build communication skills to increase harmony and manage big feelings for kids and adults.

Together, their approaches encourage families to slow the pace of childhood, create meaningful rituals, and build children’s stress tolerance while making memories that last. They will inspire you to make awe a natural, daily part of your family’s life, especially when you embrace the AWEsome, WONDER filled MESS that is parenting.

Farmer Kris is a child development expert and the author of “Raising Awe-Seekers: How the Science of Wonder Helps Our Kids Thrive,” and the “I See You” board-book series. She has appeared on numerous media outlets including CNN, PBS KIDS, NPR’s Mindshift, The Washington Post, and Oprah Daily. Farmer Kris is currently an expert advisor for the PBS KIDS show, “Carl the Collector.”

Patton, the founder of Once Upon Some Messy Fun, LLC., inspires educators, empowers family caregivers and nurtures children’s social-emotional growth through interactive workshops built on the belief that “all feelings matter” and that engaging all our senses through play, storytelling and laughter are not just fun, but powerful tools for building self-regulation skills, strengthening relationships and shaping positive learning environments. Trained in trauma-informed care, she also volunteers with a grief support group for children, and holds an M.S. in Child Development/Infancy from the Erikson Institute. 

Please share information about this event with friends and relatives. All are welcome to our free weekly GPS events, and no registration is required.