Our Mission

🌱 Vision

A world where every child can access their full emotional and cognitive potential before rigid patterns limit their growth.

🎯 Mission

To develop and distribute simple, evidence-based interventions that restore pattern flexibility in children aged 2-6, preventing the crystallization of trauma-induced behavioral patterns.

💫 Values

Universal accessibility, cultural adaptability, scientific rigor, and deep respect for children's inherent wisdom and resilience.

Our Story

The Discovery

EMBRACE emerged from the recognition that children as young as 2-6 years old can become "stuck" in either analytical or creative modes as adaptive responses to stress and trauma. Rather than pathologizing these patterns, EMBRACE views them as brilliant adaptations that have simply become too rigid.

The Breakthrough

The core insight came from observing that simple, targeted physical activities could help children access the cognitive and emotional modes they had learned to suppress. By using specific body-side activities, children could restore their natural flexibility between focused attention and creative flow states.

The Development

What started as clinical observations evolved into a systematic approach that requires no special equipment, extensive training, or cultural modification. EMBRACE can be implemented in any setting where children gather - from kindergartens in Berlin to refugee camps in crisis zones.

Core Philosophy

"We are not changing who children are - we are helping them remember who they have always been."

This fundamental belief guides everything we do. Children are not broken and do not need fixing. They need access to the full spectrum of their natural abilities.

Our Team

👨‍🔬

Tom Gamal

Founder & Lead Researcher

📍 Berlin, Germany

Tom developed the EMBRACE methodology through years of observation and research into early childhood emotional patterns. Based in Berlin, he coordinates the global implementation and research network.

Expertise:

Pattern Recognition Early Childhood Development Trauma-Informed Approaches International Implementation
📧 tomgamal@gmail.com 📞 +49 176 242 242 24
👨‍🎓

Prof. em. Dr. Joachim Hage

Expert Consultant & Program Coordinator

Professor of General Pedagogy (Emeritus)

Former President, Hochschule für soziale Arbeit und Pädagogik

Professor Hage brings decades of pedagogical expertise to the EMBRACE project, providing academic guidance and supporting implementation in educational settings.

Contribution:

  • Academic validation and peer review
  • Educational implementation strategies
  • Research methodology guidance
  • Professional network connections

Research & Development

🇺🇦 Ukraine Pilot Program

Active

Duration: 8 months

Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Kateryna Bondar, Associate Professor

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kryvyi Rih State Pedagogical University & Visiting Professor at Freie Universität Berlin

Focus: Independent field testing based on EMBRACE methodology

Status: Implementation proceeding without direct participation

🇩🇪 German Expansion Study

Planned

Scope: 60-120 children across 4 kindergartens

Duration: 12 weeks

Focus: Effectiveness validation in German educational settings

🌍 Global Network Development

Expanding

Goal: Establish regional implementation centers

Current: Seeking partners in Europe, Asia, and Americas

Focus: Cultural adaptation and local training

Scientific Foundation

EMBRACE integrates three established neuroscientific principles into a practical early intervention framework:

🧠 Network Dynamics Theory

  • Core Finding: Emotional flexibility emerges from dynamic switching between Default Mode Network (DMN) and Central Executive Network (CEN), not hemispheric dominance
  • EMBRACE Application: Pattern-specific interventions restore network flexibility
  • Research: Yeo et al. (2011), Beaty et al. (2018)

⏰ Critical Period Neuroplasticity

  • Core Finding: Ages 2-6 represent optimal windows when environmental input has maximal impact on brain circuit formation
  • EMBRACE Application: Early intervention prevents rigid patterns from crystallizing
  • Research: Hensch (2005), Fox et al. (2010)

🤸 Sensorimotor Integration

  • Core Finding: Cross-lateral movement patterns enhance corpus callosum function and interhemispheric communication
  • EMBRACE Application: Body-side specific activities restore cognitive and emotional flexibility
  • Research: Leisman et al. (2014), Cook-Cottone (2020)

📚 Learn More

Explore our comprehensive research foundation, current studies, and collaboration opportunities.

View Research Foundation →

Join the Movement

EMBRACE is more than a program - it's a global movement to restore children's natural emotional balance before patterns become rigid. Whether you're an educator, researcher, parent, or organizational leader, there's a place for you in our network.

🏫 Educators

Implement EMBRACE in your classroom or institution

Learn More →

🔬 Researchers

Collaborate on studies and publications

Get Involved →

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents

Learn EMBRACE techniques for home use

Join Community →

🏢 Organizations

Implement EMBRACE at scale

Partner With Us →