Culturally Responsive Self-Care Practices for Early Childhood Educators

Product Description The first self-care book designed specifically for the early childhood field, Culturally Responsive Self-Care Practices for Early Childhood Educators is filled with helpful strategies and tools that you can implement immediately.Recognizing that self-care is not one size fits all, the authors present culturally responsive strategies drawn from diverse early childhood staff working in a range of roles across communities and contexts. By tying the importance of educator self-care to goals of social justice and equity, this book advocates for increased awareness of the importance of self-care on both an individual and institutional level.Through key research findings, effective strategies and personal anecdotes, this accessible guide helps readers understand and engage with the critical role self-care and wellness-oriented practices play in creating strong foundations for high quality early learning programs. Review "Rooted in a clear understanding of how systemic racism and oppression impacts one’s ability to prioritize and implement self-care, this book is a tremendous resource for early childhood professionals, and for anyone who wants to learn about self-care from a culturally responsive perspective. The accessible writing helps the reader understand and make personal and professional connections to very complex topics, and highlights culturally diverse self-care practices that the reader can explore to find what works for them. This book should be required reading for all early childhood professionals, because as the authors remind us, self-care is truly the foundation of equity in early childhood education."Takiema Bunche Smith, MPA, MS Ed, Executive Director at the Center on Culture, Race and Equity at Bank Street College"Caring for the self is the core requirement for caring for young children with love and grace. The authors of Culturally Responsive Self-Care Practices for Early Childhood Educators remind us what effective self-care and community wellness look like when grounded in a broader palette of cultural practices, traditions, and expressions. This guide is a must for making space for the care and feeding of the adults watching over our youngest minds. It honors authentic cultural expressions of wellness and self-care without othering, marginalizing, or stereotyping the different ways we take care of mind, body, and spirit." Zaretta Hammond, Author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain About the Author Julie Nicholson, Ph.D., is Professor of Practice at Mills College and Senior Fellow for Childhood Education International, U.S.A.Priya Shimpi Driscoll, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Education, Chair of Early Childhood Education, and Director of the Language Development Laboratory at Mills College, U.S.A.Julie Kurtz is the Founder of the Center for Optimal Brain Integration, specializing in trauma healing and resiliency building for all ages, U.S.A.Doménica Márquez, BA, is Director of Provider Services for the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network, U.S.A.LaWanda Wesley, Ed.D., is Co-Director of the Center for Equity in Early Childhood Education and Director of Quality Enhancement and Professional Development of Early Education for Oakland Unified School District, U.S.A.