Culturally Responsive Self-Care Practices for Early Childhood Educators

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.

"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

• Introduction 1. The Impact of Stress and Trauma in the Lives of Early Educators 2. Foundations of Culturally Responsive Self-Care 3. Building a Culturally Responsive Self-Care Toolbox 4. Case Studies: Applying Ideas Throughout the Book to Your Practice 5. Conclusion Resources References