Research (including the work of Dr. Harold Minden, York University, Dr. David Elkind, Tufts University and Dr. Dan Offord, McMaster University) shows that with help, even very young children can learn to manage stress effectively. Facilitators, trained to deliver the KHST! program, are qualified to present workshops where parents and caregivers will learn how to recognize and understand stress in children, identify stressors and teach children age-appropriate stress management techniques. This Parent Education Program, the first KHST! program, was designed to help 4-9 year olds.

Over 8 years ago, The Psychology Foundation of Canada (PFC) developed KHST! in partnership with Toronto Public Health and the Toronto District School Board's Stress Management Committee. A number of professionals from the mental health, education and early childhood development fields have acted as advisors to KHST! and have participated in the evaluation process in collaboration with university based and practicing psychologists. In addition, KHST! was fully piloted and input was sought from parents throughout the development.

KHST! first offered full day interactive facilitator training courses for individuals, agencies and organizations serving children and families across Ontario. The Foundation received a grant from The Ontario Trillium Foundation to offer the training at a special rate and was able to reach thousands of parents across the province. The long-term goal was always to make the program available across Canada, so Invest in Kids (www.investinkids.ca) was then contracted as a delivery partner. There is an ongoing evaluation of this model and regular reviews.

During the training sessions, people from the child-care community asked for a similar program for 2½ - 5 year olds, as very little in the area of stress existed for that age group. Child-care professionals told us that they would benefit from more knowledge about stress and that there is a tremendous need for information on how to help children in their care.

So, the KHST! Preschool Program was developed to help in a child's first stage of developing personal coping strategies - what children learn at a young age, they carry with them throughout their lives.

So, now PFC has two KHST! programs - the Facilitator Training for Parent/Caregiver Education and the Preschool Program. We are now in the process of focus testing to see if there is a need and if it makes sense to develop a KHST! program for teachers and other professionals in the school system to use in the classroom. Further information on this next stage can be found in the KHST! School Program section.