Dr. Donna Housman | Founder of Housman Institute

Background

Dr. Donna Housman, founder of Housman Institute, has over thirty-five years of experience as a psychologist in the field of child development and early childhood education.

Vision

"Emotion is our first language. From a baby’s first cry, we have an unparalleled opportunity to inform and shape the patterning of the brain’s architecture for lifelong learning, mental health, well-being, and success."

- Dr. Donna Housman

Understanding that it is far easier to prevent than repair, Dr. Housman founded Housman Institute, and its lab school/ early childhood development center, based on emotional foundations of learning and cognition.

Her evidence-based emotional, cognitive, and social early learning approach, begin to ECSEL®, fosters the building blocks of emotional intelligence starting from birth to promote self-regulation and empathy for lifelong learning, mental health, and well-being.

Publications

Dr. Housman's peer-reviewed research detailing the success of the begin to ECSEL approach has been published in the  International Journal of Emotional Education and The International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy demonstrating that children who experience begin to ECSEL significantly improve and outperform their peers on these critical skills and competencies. 

Her contributions have appeared in:

• The New York Times,
• Boston Globe,
• MarketWatch,
• Yahoo Finance,
• The Street,
• Boston Business Journal,
• Commonwealth Magazine,
• Education Weekly, 
• WBUR

National and International Influence

Dr. Housman is an active presenter and speaker both nationally and internationally. She has been featured by organizations including:

• Education Research Association (AERA)
• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
• Zero to Three, Harvard China Education Symposium, among many others.
• Founding executive board member and treasurer of the Massachusetts Association for Infant Mental Health, a subchapter of the World Association for Infant Mental Health.
• Member of the Children's Health Task Force, Coalition of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
• Board member of the New England Center for Children (NECC).

Play the video below to hear Dr. Donna Housman featured on WCVB, speaking on recognizing signs of anxiety in children, and what can be done to help children manage their emotions.