Overview

Full Product Details

9780876598313

Table of Contents

Reviews

As the evidence has mounted about the benefits of mindfulness practices to support the learning and development of young children (e.g., increase in attention and focus, decrease in disruptive behavior), early childhood educators and leaders have sought resources that offer both solid grounding in evidence and practical ideas for everyday application. The Power of Presence: A Guide to Mindfulness Practices in Early Childhood is the best resource I've seen as it provides both. Each chapter offers new ideas to support mindfulness, teaching, and learning and offers resources targeted to the needs of children, caregivers, and educators. The author's perspectives reflect a commitment to supporting each and every child, through examples that support inclusion and promote equity. Perhaps the most compelling feature of the book is how it made me feel while I was reading it. As I read each chapter I felt myself relax, my breathing deepen, and my interest grow. As someone who is familiar with mindfulness practices, I found useful new information on every page. The author has skillfully crafted a tapestry of evidence, examples, and options, made more cohesive by the lovely artwork and stories throughout. -- Camille Catlett, Research Scientist at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at University of North Carolina Mindfulness resources for children are proliferating, but The Power of Presence: A Guide to Mindfulness Practices in Early Childhood stands apart by challenging us to make the connection between mindful awareness and social justice. The benefits of mindfulness to see clearly and non-judgmentally, listen deeply, speak thoughtfully, act intentionally, reflect, and be kind are the tools we need to foster peace and equanimity in the classroom and in life. Dr. Erwin synthesizes decades of research, teaching, mindfulness practice, reflection, and curiosity. She deftly blends personal stories, teacher and child anecdotes, practices contributed by respected professionals, and focus questions to engage the reader on every page. Elizabeth writes as she speaks, with positive language, passion, joy, and optimism. The Power of Presence inspires us to consider our classrooms as fertile flowerbeds in which we can plant and nurture seeds of peace by practicing mindfulness together with our children. Let it rain. -- Susan Hendler Lederer, PhD, Professor of Communication Sciences & Disorders at Adelphi University The Power of Presence: A Guide to Mindfulness Practices in Early Childhood is a must read for every early childhood teacher and educator. Written with a thoughtful style and showcasing the latest research, theory and also the practical applications of mindfulness in the early years, this book is a fantastic resource whether you are starting out or a seasoned teacher. With many practical explanations and ideas of how we, as the adults supporting children, can be present and mindful, to activities young children will love, this book is a comprehensive guide to those wanting to learn more about the benefits of mindful learning to our youngest students. I especially love the many links to available stories and resources for both adults and children, the many real world examples, as well as the use of children's voice throughout the book. A wonderful book for any preschool educator. -- Dr, Helen Maffini, MindBE Education

Author Information

Elizabeth Joy Erwin, EdD is Professor at Montclair State University where she prepares current and future teachers to think critically, reflect deeply, and teach inclusively. Over the past 25 years, her commitment to educational equity in early childhood has been at the heart of her teaching, advocacy, and research. Within the primary theme of challenging injustice (with an emphasis on disability), Dr. Erwin's scholarship has focused on multiple strands within early childhood inclusive education, including mindfulness and well-being, membership and belonging, family-professional partnerships, and early self-determination. In pursuit of social action, both locally and globally, Dr. Erwin has published widely in prestigious academic journals and has authored multiple books and chapters. She has accepted invitations to teach about inclusive early childhood worldwide, for example in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Slovakia, and Ukraine. She has engaged in educational inquiry and projects with universities around the world. Dr. Erwin currently lives in New York City, where she practices yoga and meditation every day.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available