Explore this detailed resource to deepen your understanding of the H-U-G-S Interaction Style designed to support practitioners with helping caregivers foster children’s social-emotional development through responsive, co-regulated interactions. The attached manual offers practical guidance, tools, and strategies to effectively coach and support families during tense and calm interactions.
The H-U-G-S Interaction Style Manual offers comprehensive information about the H-U-G-S framework (Hear, Understand, Give, Social-Emotional learning) and provides clear instructions for coaching caregivers. It includes a description of the H-U-G-S framework, coaching guidance, and helpful tips.
Appendices
The appendices below provide practical and detailed guidance on topics related to social-emotional learning. Practitioners can use the appendices to deepen their knowledge and expand their use of H-U-G-S with families and caregivers.
Understanding how children communicate their feelings—especially when subtle—can be challenging. The document above shares details about common cues children use to show when they want to engage or disengage, helping adults better interpret and respond to their needs.
Using emotion words with young children helps build the foundation for emotional literacy, communication, and empathy. The document above shares simple, age-appropriate emotional vocabulary that caregivers can use to support young children’s social and emotional development.
Practitioners play a key role in helping caregivers manage their emotions by modeling calm, supportive responses during challenging moments. The document above shares strategies practitioners can use to co-regulate with caregivers, promote emotional balance, and support caregivers in developing their own effective regulation techniques enabling them to co-regulate with their children.Writing effective IFSP outcomes for social-emotional learning involves focusing on child learning priorities in the context of meaningful family routines. The document above provides guidance on creating functional, meaningful outcomes that support children’s growth within everyday family routines, as well as guidance for writing parent support outcomes.Understanding children’s social-emotional development is often clouded by common misconceptions. The document above highlights these misunderstandings, explains their potential impact, and offers helpful information to support more accurate and positive approaches.The following caregiver resources support consistent use of the H-U-G-S Interaction Style throughout the day. Accessible at FIPP.org, these tools include guides, booklets, and infographics and can be shared directly with caregivers as needed to bolster their consistent use of H-U-G-S to strengthen their interactions with their children.
Children’s behavior is influenced by a variety of factors, and understanding these can help caregivers respond more effectively to their needs. The document above shares key considerations and child interests (sensory, preferences, language delays, temperament, etc.) that impact child behavior, and offers strategies practitioners can use to support caregivers in interpreting and responding to behavioral cues in a meaningful way.The following vignette illustrates how a practitioner can support a caregiver with using the H-U-G-S Interaction Style during everyday routines. The example highlights how a coaching conversation can help caregivers better understand and respond to their child’s needs in predictable ways.Reflective questions are powerful tools in coaching conversations, helping caregivers think deeply and make informed decisions. The document above offers examples of thoughtful questions practitioners can use to guide and support caregivers throughout their journey.This section provides key references and resources that support the information and strategies shared throughout H-U-G-S materials. These authoritative sources offer valuable insights into children’s social-emotional development, behavior, and caregiver interactions.
To request individual or group certification training on the use of the H-U-G-S , contact Sarah Sexton at the Family, Infant and Preschool Program by email at [email protected] or call (828) 608-6707.
