Beyond Covid-19: infusing interactive multi-sensory physical movements to a new model of children’s adaptation for the new normal

Liton Furukawa was awarded funding from Mitacs for a mixed method interdisciplinary study of mental-health strategies for children by designing an interactive multi-sensory physical movements model.

The Mental Health Commission of Canada indicates that approximately 1.2 million children and youth in Canada are affected by mental illness; however, only 20% receive proper treatment. Studies have shown that the pandemic impacts children’s physical and mental health, and children are now experiencing increased mental health and physical challenges as a result of COVID-19 (Wang et al., 2020; Rundle et al., 2020). Do we — as parents and early childhood educators — have plans now to protect, recast, and reinvigorate children’s physical and mental health in the new normal that might transform stressful problems and trauma into a source of emotional energy and be met with meaningful and interesting innovation? This research is focused on expanding mental-health strategies using interactive multi-sensory physical movements (IMPM) to prevent adverse childhood experiences in both mainstream and special education settings. Expected results are to design an IMPM model which accounts for the children's mental and physical needs in order to integrate designed activities into scientific instruments (applications of holography) employing look/see, hear, touch, smell, taste, feel, think, speak, and full body motions. This model is feasible and accessible as a new innovative kindergarten curriculum/program. This mixed method interdisciplinary study will offer this new model with the aim of producing long term benefits for children, parents, and early childhood educators; it will also benefit the international early childhood education industry and scholars/researchers.