Educating Young Children Volume 1 - Summer 2025 | Page 32

can help us maintain our passion for teaching young children, even on difficult days.

Integrating self-compassion practices into daily routines can be a powerful way to find greater calm and resilience, even amid the challenges of a busy learning setting. Following are some effective strategies.( To read more about what these look like in action, see“ Educator Voices: Putting Self-Care into Practice.”) Start small, perhaps by choosing one or two strategies to focus on at a time as you develop this skill.

› Engage in self-compassionate talk: This is a technique you can practice any time. When you notice self-critical thoughts, try reframing them in a kinder way. For example, if you feel like you handled an interaction with a parent poorly, avoid criticizing yourself. Instead, you might say,“ That didn’ t go as well as I’ d hoped. Interacting with families can be challenging, and I did my best in that moment. Next time, I will try a different strategy.” By reframing your harsh inner critic and practicing kind self-talk, you begin to grow in self-compassion. If this feels hard, try thinking about what you might say to a friend in your situation. Then, direct that encouragement and support toward yourself.

› Practice mindfulness: Find moments throughout the day to pause, notice your thoughts and feelings without judgment, and connect to the present moment. This may include taking several deep breaths during transitions or doing a quick body scan to identify and release tension. You might even invite children to join these exercises.

› Use compassionate gestures or touch: Place your hand over your heart, or cross your arms and give your torso a gentle