What We Do

Kindred Family Practice grew from the concept that families desire applicable knowledge that provides empowerment for both child and parent in any given situation or location. We provide integrated support for children and their families, to create a safe environment for growth, connection, and effectiveness. Kindred Family Practice promotes living well with your children, advocating for the development of healthy relationship with yourself, your family, and your home. Together we will create a plan and implement the strategies to overcome challenges, so you can start enjoying your family time and feel confident that your children are thriving.

If you feel “yes” is the answer to some or all of the following questions, we can help.

Does your child have trouble expressing themselves or understanding others?
Does your child lack a filter, blurting out thoughts that may seem inappropriate at the time?
Does your child have trouble focusing?
Does your child have meltdowns or what may be perceived as tantrums?
Do the adults in the family disagree on how to manage behaviours?
Do you find yourself raising your voice?
Do you find transition time challenging (dinner-bath time, inside-outside)?
Do you find being out in the community challenging (grocery shopping, restaurants)?
Does your family feel out of balance or lacking in organization?
Do you feel overwhelmed, exhausted or lost?

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The Meaning Behind Our Name

**Kindred** - Similar in kind, related, like minded thinking
**Family** - A social unit consisting of one or more adults together with the children they care for
**Practice** - The actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, as opposed to theories relating to it

““There must be provision for the child to have contact with nature; to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony and the beauty in nature.” ”

— Maria Montessori

Meet Jana

Hello, I am Jana Luchene. Welcome. When founding Kindred Family Practice, I had one goal, to hold space (bring your entire presence to them, walk along without judgement, sharing their journey to an unknown destination) for families while providing support in such a way that parents would know their children and family will receive excellent and effective guidance. Having worked in the field of Early Childhood for over 25 years and being a parent myself, I know that sometimes we need to reach further beyond what’s right in front of us when things seem challenging, hopeless or overwhelming. As parents we so desperately want to get everything right.

I am embarking on a new path in my career, but for me, it is also a calling. During my time as a preschool kindergarten Directress, one thing that I continually heard from parents was “I wish I could take you home”. Parents were craving for more; more knowledge, more skills, more understanding, ultimately more connection with their child. All parents face challenges, some common to many families, while other challenges are unique. I believe in the principle, that children are human beings deserving of respect and empathy and through the power of connection families can develop effective social-emotional relationships with each other, which in-tern, translates into effective social-emotional lives outside the family.

As a Montessori educator for twenty-five years, I have been steeping in Dr. Montessori’s philosophy of a learning environment that is completely geared towards children, her understanding of the phases and characteristics of the child’s planes of development, and how the spiral hands-on experiential curriculum prepares the child for life.

However, through my practice working with hundreds of children with unique needs, I wanted a stronger understanding of social behavior. This need led me to another methodology called Social Thinking, pioneered by Michelle Garcia Winner and Dr. Pamela Crooke.

I have incorporated Social Thinking into my classroom along with the Montessori philosophy and have witnessed children flourishing. After years of watching parents struggle to understand and work with their child’s behaviours, this framework has spoken directly to my heart. I truly believe that all children and, in-tern, their families can strongly benefit from this.

I am passionate about animals. I am passionate about the outdoors. I believe in the healing power that animals bring to our lives. I have seen first-hand what being outdoors immersed in nature can do for children. I know what being connected to the outdoors on a daily basis does for me. Stepping outside of the classroom or home provides a different experience. Spending time in nature builds confidence, promotes creativity and imagination, teaches responsibility, provides different stimulation and gets kids moving, makes them think and reduces stress and fatigue. I believe we need to develop the whole child, that support comes from many places and in many forms. I have seen what the cross-over of fundamental lessons from home and classroom to the outdoors can bring to a child's life. I myself have discovered opportunities of profound learning while being in the company of my horses, this becomes an integrated holistic experience that has the capacity to change lives forever.

It is in this area that I combine my passion and experience in the form of Equine facilitated Learning. The offering of Equine Facilitated Learning, on its own or in addition to support for children and families in home or out in the community, can open the window for connections with our own instincts, feelings and intuition. Equines provide an enrichment like no other.

An abundance of information on children's behaviour can easily be found, searching for answers on the internet, reading a variety of books or talking with family or friends. What I hope you will find here is a support system like no other. A support system that you can access and that can move in and out of the family with fluidity, a support system that is customized to your family’s needs, a support system that will empower you and your child to feel greater equipped to move forward effectively on your journey, equipped with tools to manage day-to-day life with a sense of ease and clarity.