Our role as educators reflects our desire to foster the wellbeing of children however, we must also believe that we are worth taking care of.
The health and wellbeing of early childhood educators holds great significance from a myriad of perspectives.
Over the past fifteen years of working in the early childhood sector, I have noticed that the most effective way to promote the wellbeing of the children in my care is to embody a strong sense of wellbeing within myself.
I believe that the wellbeing of educators is key to promoting high-quality outcomes for children, preventing burnout and upholding purpose and integrity as an early childhood professional.
An article by Cumming (2016) says:
“a direct connection occurs between early childhood educators’ wellbeing and their capacity for providing high quality education and care”.
Stephen Spitalny says that children learn and imitate the traits of their educators and that this influences their behavioural patterns. Tone of voice, physical gestures and quality of presence are reflections of our inner mood and influence the environment we inhabit. Children absorb their surroundings through all their senses so it is important to reflect on how we are contributing to their responses.
Some reflections on ways to promote your own physical wellbeing:
If the wellbeing of educators is compromised, almost every aspect of their role cannot be fulfilled.
The early childhood sector has one of the highest turnover rates amongst other professions and this is due to a number of factors that include (but are not limited to), time pressures, managing children’s needs with personal needs, collaborating with parents, maintaining classroom practices and meeting policy requirements. Being an early childhood educator can be extremely challenging, overwhelming and exhausting. It is important to foster a collective valuing of wellbeing in your service by acknowledging and supporting the different wellbeing requirements of your fellow educators. This will create a stronger and more supportive team dynamic and ultimately, lessen or even prevent the chance of burning out.
Some educators that were interviewed as part of the Early Childhood Education and Care Wellbeing Project reported feeling “guilty” for taking a break! It is important that we encourage each other to take the time to honour our own wellbeing needs so that we have to energy to keep giving.
Some ideas for mental/emotional wellbeing:
When we prioritise our wellbeing, we are able to think, respond and create more efficiently. Our state of wellbeing affects the way we interact with others, the quality of programming and planning and the collective energy within the service.
It is important to note that there is no such thing as being in a perfect state of wellbeing - life changes from day to day and many external things are beyond our control.
What's important is that we have a toolkit of wellbeing practices to draw upon that support us in supporting ourselves. It is equally important that we support our children, families and colleagues along their wellbeing journey too.
Practices for staying professionally inspired:
Since taking a genuine interest in my own wellbeing and understanding the many aspects that encompass it, I have noticed significant changes in my observations of and approaches to the children in my care. My relationships with them have become much more meaningful.
As educators, we are privileged to be in a position that influences the future of humanity. If we value and commit to daily practices that foster our physical, emotional and professional wellbeing, we will notice a difference in the potential of the children in our care and the future that awaits us.
My favourite quote by Rudolf Steiner sums it up perfectly,
“You will not be good teachers if you only focus on what you do and not upon who you are”
We all know that the first seven years of a child’s life is the most crucial in shaping their values and identity. Remember that children learn by imitating what they experience through their senses. They deserve to be cared for by people with integrity and warmth, who are worthy of imitation.
Educators my message to you is: ‘Believe you are worth taking care of, because, you are’
Alana says: “I am passionate about sharing wellbeing practices with educators to empower them to uphold their roles with passion and integrity”