As young children learn crucial skills like sharing, communicating feelings and cultivating resilience, mindfulness plays an important role to their social-emotional development. Practicing mindfulness and awareness is proven to lower stress levels in children and adults. Early childhood expert Elizabeth Joy Erwin, EdD shares approachable tools and tips families and educators can use to practice mindfulness in their classroom, home, or anywhere in between.
As the world continues to produce more uncertainty, one thing is absolutely certain: slowing down, spending time with each other, and recognizing your feelings is incredibly important. We’re introducing #MindfulnessMonday to bring you tips and tools to help you bring your awareness to the moment.
As young children learn crucial skills like sharing, communicating feelings and cultivating resilience, mindfulness plays an important role to their social-emotional development. Practicing mindfulness and awareness is proven to lower stress levels in children and adults. As the American Psychological Association found, mindfulness can bring peace, patience and kindness to an otherwise frantic world.*
Early childhood expert and Gryphon House author of The Power of Presence (coming October 2020), Elizabeth Joy Erwin, EdD shares approachable tools and tips educators can use to practice mindfulness in their classroom, home, or anywhere in between.
About the Author
Elizabeth Erwin, EdD, is a professor of early childhood, elementary, and literacy education at Montclair State University. Her scholarship explores early childhood and inclusive education, the power of mindfulness and well- being, family-professional partnerships, a sense of belonging in early childhood, and self-determination. She is a prolific author and has published widely in prestigious academic journals and books.
*Davis, Daphne M., and Jeffrey A. Hayes. 2012. "What Are the Benefits of Mindfulness?” Monitor on Psychology 43(7): 64.
