Mindfulness & Yoga for Early Childhood Educators from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Techniques for incorporating mindfulness and yoga practices into early childhood environments
Benefits of using mindfulness and yoga practices in the early childhood environment

Practical ways of bringing mindfulness and yoga practices into everyday life

Techniques for incorporating mindfulness and yoga practices into early childhood environments
Benefits of using mindfulness and yoga practices in the early childhood environment
Practical ways of bringing mindfulness and yoga practices into everyday life

Syllabus

Welcome to Mindfulness & Yoga for Early Childhood Educators. This course will guide you through practical, research-based ways of incorporating Mindfulness & Yoga practices into your work with young c

My experience with Yoga, Mindfulness & Early Childhood Education.

Definition of Mindfulness & Yoga; how they're related.

Gain a better understanding of the mental and physical benefits of these practices.

Exploration of the mental benefits of Mindfulness & Yoga practices and how this relates to work in the ECE field.

Exploration of the physical benefits of Mindfulness & Yoga practices and how this relates to work in the ECE field.

Regulation & Connection

Gain a better understanding of the variety of mental and physical practices under the umbrella of Mindfulness & Yoga including "Mindful Movement" & Yoga Asana, breathing and meditation techniques.

Yoga is a system of practices comprised of eight distinct "limbs". Here we'll explore the most common ones and how they apply to the work of an Early Childhood Educator.

Everyday Actions

This Chair Yoga sequence can be done at any time of the day and is appropriate for all levels. Please consult your doctor before engaging in these exercises if you have any injuries or health concerns.

Mindful Movement means paying attention to the ways you move naturally throughout your day.

Is this movement helping or hurting you?? The ways we stand, walk, sit, carry and lift all can have profound impacts on our physical health. With mindfulness we can gain more awareness of what is and isn't working for our bodies and start to notice where and how to make modifications that improve posture and overall physical health. Mindful movement can be as simple as making a slight adjustment to how you hold your head/ neck/ back/ pelvis/legs/ feet when walking or standing. Mindful movement can be intentionally switching your heavy bag to your "non dominant" shoulder (though ideally heavy bags should be carried with both shoulders on the back!) or carrying a child on your non dominant hip. Another way of moving mindfully is noticing how you move when you are lifting something (or someone!). Are you using your back to carry the weight? If so, bring your attention to your core/ abdominal muscles, along with your thighs and gluteal muscles and focus on engaging those while lifting. (The forward fold sequence in the chair Yoga video is a great way to practice this kind of engagement. It's always best to practice engaging muscles in a controlled environment, such as during a Chair Yoga sequence, before trying to do so in the moment of lifting...especially if you are lifting a child.)

Mindful movement also occurs on the Yoga mat, but since most people don't spend their whole day on the mat I think it's important to focus on our "everyday" actions.

Breathing techniques

Breathing with Young Children

Sharing Yoga with Young Children

Beginner-friendly Yoga poses

Restorative practices + Yoga props

Please consult your doctor before engaging in these exercises if you have any injuries or health concerns. "Legs up the wall" is a restorative practice that can be helpful for alleviating stress, back & leg pain and headaches. It can also aid in digestion.

Please consult your doctor before engaging in these exercises if you have any injuries or health concerns.

Meditation

Sharing Meditation with Young Children

Explore ways of incorporating Mindfulness practices into your work environment.

Mindful Spaces & Tools

Trust the process

Mindfully Messy

*bonus content* Yoga class for educators

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Mindfulness & Yoga for Early Childhood Educators with these activities:

Review 'Planting Seeds: Practicing Mindfulness with Children'

Show steps

Learn practical mindfulness exercises for children to enhance your teaching approach.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book, focusing on exercises.
Identify 3 exercises to try.
Reflect on how to adapt them.

Review Child Development Principles

Show steps

Strengthen your understanding of child development to better apply mindfulness and yoga techniques.

Browse courses on Child Development

Show steps

Review key stages of development.
Focus on social-emotional milestones.
Consider how yoga supports development.

Create a Mindful Space in Your Classroom

Show steps

Design a designated area for mindfulness and yoga practices to enhance the learning environment.

Show steps

Identify a suitable space in the classroom.
Gather calming and sensory-friendly materials.
Introduce the space to the children.
Establish clear guidelines for use.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Develop a Short Yoga Sequence for Circle Time

Show steps

Craft a simple yoga routine suitable for young children to incorporate movement into circle time.

Show steps

Choose 3-5 beginner-friendly poses.
Create a sequence with smooth transitions.
Practice the sequence yourself.
Introduce it to the children gradually.

Review 'Yoga Calm for Children'

Show steps

Explore a structured approach to teaching yoga and mindfulness to children.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book, focusing on lesson plans.
Select a lesson plan to adapt.
Reflect on how to implement it.

Design a Printable Yoga Pose Card Set

Show steps

Develop a set of visual aids to help children learn and practice yoga poses independently.

Show steps

Choose 10-12 common yoga poses.
Find or create clear illustrations of each pose.
Write simple instructions for each pose.
Design and print the cards.

Share Your Mindfulness Practices with Colleagues

Show steps

Share your knowledge and experience with other educators to promote mindfulness and yoga in your school.

Show steps

Offer to lead a short mindfulness session.
Share resources and tips from the course.
Encourage colleagues to try new techniques.

Career center

Learners who complete Mindfulness & Yoga for Early Childhood Educators will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Childcare Provider

A childcare provider cares for children in a variety of settings, such as daycare centers, preschools, or private homes. Their responsibilities include providing basic care, creating engaging activities, and fostering social and emotional development. This course provides practical ways of bringing mindfulness and yoga practices into everyday life, which can be directly applied to the childcare setting. The course's breathing and meditation exercises and techniques can help a childcare provider manage stress and create a calmer environment for children. The course provides beginner-friendly yoga poses and tips for creating mindful spaces, which can be easily incorporated into daily routines. A childcare provider who wants to foster wellness in children should take this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Childcare Provider

Early Childhood Education Consultant

An early childhood education consultant advises schools, childcare centers, and other organizations on best practices in early childhood education. They often specialize in areas such as curriculum development, classroom management, or social-emotional learning. This course may be highly relevant, as it focuses on incorporating mindfulness and yoga practices into early childhood environments. The course's exploration of the mental and physical benefits of these practices can help a consultant advocate for their inclusion in educational programs. The course provides practical techniques and printable resources for sharing yoga poses with children, which a consultant could use to train teachers and staff. Someone drawn to education consulting should explore how these tools might enrich early learning environments.

See salaries and explore the career path for Early Childhood Education Consultant

Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant

An early childhood mental health consultant provides mental health consultation services to early childhood programs and families. They work with teachers, caregivers, and parents to promote children's social-emotional development and address behavioral challenges. This course, focusing on mindfulness for early childhood educators, may be beneficial for a mental health consultant looking to integrate mindfulness and yoga practices into their work. The course's exploration of mindful movement and breathing techniques can help a consultant train teachers and caregivers in these practices. This position typically requires a Master's degree.

See salaries and explore the career path for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant

Special Education Teacher

A special education teacher works with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. Special Education Teachers adapt general education lessons and teach various subjects, such as reading, writing, and mathematics, to students with mild and moderate disabilities. This course may be useful to a special education teacher. They will have the ability to incorporate mindfulness and yoga practices into the classroom to meet the needs of some students. The course’s videos offer various yoga classes, and may be appropriate for some students in the classroom. They can create a more mindful learning environment through a variety of methods shown in the course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Special Education Teacher

Preschool Director

A preschool director is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a preschool or childcare center. This includes managing staff, developing curriculum, and ensuring a safe and nurturing environment for children. The course may be relevant because it provides techniques for incorporating mindfulness and yoga practices into early childhood environments. The course's focus on self-care practices for early childhood educators can also help a director promote staff well-being and prevent burnout. The course offers videos of yoga classes suitable for educators with all levels of experience, which can be shared with staff to encourage participation and create a more mindful workplace. Someone who is going into early childhood education leadership will find that the course gives them valuable methods.

See salaries and explore the career path for Preschool Director

Curriculum Developer

A curriculum developer designs and creates educational materials for schools, school districts, and other educational institutions. They typically have a background in education or a related field, and need to be very knowledgeable about the subject matter they’re developing curriculum for. This course provides techniques for incorporating Mindfulness and Yoga practices, which can be beneficial for a curriculum developer looking to add wellness components to early childhood programs. The course's coverage of breathing techniques and meditation, as well as mindful spaces and tools, may be helpful when designing social-emotional learning activities. The course also includes downloadable resources for sharing yoga poses, which could be adapted for use in a curriculum. A curriculum developer may find this course useful for its practical, research-based methods.

See salaries and explore the career path for Curriculum Developer

Early Intervention Specialist

An early intervention specialist works with infants and young children who have developmental delays or disabilities. Their role is to assess the child's needs, develop individualized intervention plans, and provide support to families. This course may be valuable as it provides techniques for incorporating mindfulness and yoga practices into early childhood environments. Because early intervention specialists often work with children who have sensory or emotional regulation challenges, the course's exploration of mindful movement and breathing techniques may be particularly relevant. Yoga for this age group can be valuable, and the course could help improve ways to help children.

See salaries and explore the career path for Early Intervention Specialist

Family Support Specialist

A family support specialist works with families to provide resources, education, and support services. They help families navigate challenges, such as poverty, mental health issues, or parenting difficulties, and connect them with community resources. The course's focus on self-care practices for early childhood educators, including yoga poses, mindful movement, and meditation, can be highly relevant for a family support specialist who wants to promote well-being among the families they serve. The course may help a specialist facilitate workshops or support groups that teach families how to use mindfulness and yoga to manage stress and improve their relationships. A family support specialist can use the course instruction to help the people they serve.

See salaries and explore the career path for Family Support Specialist

Behavioral Therapist

A behavioral therapist works with individuals who have mental health or behavioral issues, helping them to develop coping skills and modify their behavior. This course's techniques for incorporating mindfulness and yoga practices into early childhood environments may be useful for a behavioral therapist working with young children. Children may benefit from the breathing and meditation exercises when learning to manage difficult emotional states. The course's exploration of mindful spaces and tools may also be valuable when creating a therapeutic environment. Someone who wants to use multiple techniques for helping children may find the course helpful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Behavioral Therapist

Social Worker

A social worker provides support and advocacy to individuals, families, and communities in need. They assess client needs, develop intervention plans, and connect clients with resources such as housing, healthcare, and counseling. This course's focus on self-care practices may be relevant for social workers who often experience high levels of stress and burnout. Also the course's exploration of breathing and meditation techniques can help social workers manage stress and improve their overall well-being and the wellbeing of their clients. The course's practical ways of bringing mindfulness into everyday life may be useful for social workers who want to promote resilience and well-being among their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Elementary School Teacher

An elementary school teacher provides instruction to students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. They create lesson plans, assess student progress, and foster a positive learning environment. This course may be useful to an elementary school teacher, who can incorporate mindfulness and yoga practices into the classroom. The course may assist with the implementation of these methods in an elementary school classroom. The course's exploration of mindful spaces and tools may also be valuable when creating an appropriate learning environment. Breathing and meditation methods taught by the course may assist elementary school students.

See salaries and explore the career path for Elementary School Teacher

Recreational Therapist

A recreational therapist plans, directs, and coordinates recreation-based treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses. They may use techniques discussed in this course such as mindfulness and yoga to help improve the physical, emotional, and social well-being of their clients. The course may be directly transferrable to the recreational therapist's patients, particularly children. The course may assist with helping patients or clients with their health through exercise.

See salaries and explore the career path for Recreational Therapist

Camp Counselor

A camp counselor supervises children or teenagers in a summer camp setting. They lead activities, ensure camper safety, and foster a fun and positive environment. This course may be beneficial to a camp counselor. Camp counselors often lead children in many exercises and activities. The course may help improve their ability to lead children and foster a safe environment. This course may be very useful when planning the camp's activities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Camp Counselor

Substitute Teacher

A substitute teacher fills in for regular teachers who are absent. Substitute Teachers follow lesson plans, manage classrooms, and ensure that students continue to learn in a safe and productive environment. The course may be useful to implement mindfulness and yoga practices into the classroom in order to support learning. The course can help maintain a safe and productive environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Substitute Teacher

Health Educator

A health educator promotes wellness by developing and implementing health programs. Health educators use multiple methods to improve wellness, and The course may be useful in order to learn mindfulness and yoga practices helpful for educational programs. The course's methods of incorporating mindfulness into the work environment may assist a health educator to make a more focused and educational program.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Educator

Reading list

We've selected one books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Mindfulness & Yoga for Early Childhood Educators.

Putting Knowledge to Work

Save

Offers practical mindfulness exercises and stories specifically designed for children. It provides a gentle introduction to mindfulness, making it an excellent resource for educators new to the practice. The book's focus on simplicity and accessibility aligns perfectly with the course's goal of incorporating mindfulness into early childhood settings. It serves as a valuable guide for adapting mindfulness techniques to suit young children's needs.

Putting Knowledge to Work

Paperback

Check price

Putting Knowledge to Work

Kindle Edition

Check price

Mindfulness & Yoga for Early Childhood Educators

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Save this course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses