A Conversation with Laura Haver

Why do you believe SEL and EQ are important?
SEL and EQ are some of the most valuable skills in life! Life is a whirlwind. Things are always changing, therefore our ability to regulate our emotions and reactions is a huge advantage. The earlier we can teach these skills to our children, the better off they will be. Plus, they can use these tools to sideswipe needless suffering and learn how to live a mindful and present life. Many of these skills are so simple, yet so effective. I love creating new and fun ways to teach them to kids and families.

Do you have any personal anecdotes about how SEL/EQ has brought you success in your personal life/career?

Anecdote 1:

We are in lockdown. We haven’t left the house for days (except for going outside for walks or to play). I am trying my best to keep my spirits level for my kids and forget about the haunting images of empty shelves- aisle after aisle at the grocery store. I wonder what the boys could be thinking- only last week they were going to school, sports, playdates- anywhere and everywhere! Now we’ve just been home. They can’t even see their grandparents or cousins.

Luckily, they are asleep for the moment. I sit on the couch contemplating life and the weird state of the world. I realize I have two choices- to freak out (which seems easiest and most attractive) or to try to stay present and take it one day at time (which sounds much harder, but probably wiser).

My monkey mind keeps trying its best to pull me into full on panic. Steadfast, I lean into all my meditation practice and keep trying to clear my thoughts. I look around to get grounded. I am safe. My family is safe. We are healthy. We have food to eat and a home for shelter. If things really do hit the fan, do I want to waste my time right now when things are still relatively “good” being worried? That thought rocks me. I choose to move forward amidst the whirlwind of life. Even though most things around me seem to be building up strength, speed and negativity, I commit to doing my best to be present.




The sunlight wakes me up to a new day. The cobwebs of my fear from last night are brushed away. Instead, I am inspired to be present and to be of service. My mind fills with ideas and together with my family, we start the #WeWriteTheStory2020 Challenge. Life is always happening around it. We get to tell the story of our own life. We get to write what we do and how we react. We are grateful that we can help bring play, connection and moments of light to families.

Anecdote 2:
In addition to using my meditation practice for presence, strength and perseverance during the pandemic, I also used my favorite/number one happiness hack- gratitude! In fact, it made a huge difference in our ability to cope with all the changes. You see, for a couple years now we have been asking the boys each night to tell us three new things they are grateful for. This practice alone was crucial in their ability to navigate and work through all of the changes and impacts that COVID has had on their daily lives.

They would tell me things like, “Mom, I’m so glad we have a house,” and “Mom, I’m glad we can still go outside,” even though they hadn’t been at school in months, seen their friends or our extended family. Having been playing what I now created as Game 65: Gratitude Detectives for so long, they had already built the skill of scanning their lives for things to be grateful for. And rather than using their built-in reflex negativity bias that we are all born with, they were rewired to look at life through a gratitude filter.

I am so proud of our dedication to making the practice of gratitude a regular habit in our daily lives, and I am excited to share all my games and ideas with you so you too can help your family boost your overall well-being.


What do you believe to be one or two of the main challenges in education (K-8) today?
One obvious current challenge is providing a quality education to all K-8 students amidst a global pandemic. And addressing the new stressors. With a variety of schooling options available- ranging from in person to virtual to homeschool- teachers and students face a whole new set of difficulties. The entire landscape of school has changed. Everyone has been forced to into a new situation. We are up against more and new external stressors as we face unprecedented times. Therefore, EQ and SEL training take on added significance, and we are excited to share practical takeaways for educators and parents.

Conversely, what do you believe to be one or two of the biggest opportunities in education
(K-8) today? One of the biggest opportunities in education today is to find ways to incorporate more play, mindfulness, and movement into the normal routine. Research shows that kids (and adults) learn faster and easier when they are in a play or flow state. Therefore, by training teachers and educators on simple ways to incorporate these skills into this existing curriculums and structures, we can create an environment primed for learning, inspiration and emotional support.