Today's classrooms call for a delicate balance of policy and practice. Early childhood educators are tasked with developing the social, emotional, and academic wellbeing of the children they serve, while also following school, district, and government expectations. Many teachers struggle to effectively teach academic content, given their students' social and emotional needs. Studies show that the prevalence of children experiencing trauma and adversity is high, with more than two-thirds of children experiencing at least one traumatic event by the age of 16. Early childhood educators must understand how such adversity impacts children's development and learning, and use such understanding as a foundation from which to strengthen their knowledge and tools for planting seeds of hope and possibility as they support children's development of resilience and coping strategies.