We’ve put together a list of the top minds in NZ ECE who are working to help guide teachers in their journey of a culture of kindness leaders who understand that connection, relationship and the beauty to be found in teaching is never lost. They are full of positive energy, and it then weaves naturally into their teaching practice. When teachers can keep compassion for themselves and those around them (whatever that may look like for each team and individual), the energy that they can then bring to their partnerships with children is one of kindness, love and empathy. Embrace what you are good at, and do the same for others. Show love and compassion through supporting each other in practical ways. Be present – celebrate victories when you can, and learn from opportunities when they present themselves.Don’t put pressure on yourself to be passionate every day. Understand you are human, with failings, bad days and inconsistencies.Think about how you can bring this to your daily practice and implement it. Bring what you love to your teaching practice – are you an avid artist? A gardener? Do you love to sew, to cook, to design? Perhaps you are a writer at heart.Eat well - nourish your body during work with fuel that will heal, restore and give energy.Make the centre feel like your home as well – does your staffroom encourage rest? Does it need flowers or calming music? A snuggly couch or delish hot drinks? What about the classroom – are you at peace when you walk in, like when you walk into your home? What can you add, or remove, to make it feel homely for you?.Have a slow day where you read, bake and relax with the children. Show empathy to yourself – don’t expect to give “your all” all the time. Bring little touches to the staffroom and your classroom that make you happy - whether that be a photo of your family, a bunch of fresh flowers that you love, a scented candle that always puts you in a good mood, or your favourite cardigan to snuggle up in on a cold day.Understand you are human, with failings, bad days and inconsistencies. How can we embrace a culture of kindness? Where do we start?īeing kind to ourselves and to those around us in our teaching environment is the best place to begin. It means opening our hearts to a practise where relationships are central to everything we do opening doors of learning for ourselves as well as for children.Ĭreating a practice where this is possible starts with creating an environment where educators feel supported free to be themselves, full of peace and positive energy so they can continue to give of themselves. It’s about keeping the heart of NZ ECE alive, growing and strong.Įmbracing a culture of kindness as an individual teacher and a team means the beginning of a new journey. It’s about remaining open and passionate, despite what is thrown at us. Teaching with a culture of kindness is about teaching with heart. Almost like rising from the ashes, this new mindset allows educators to continue working passionately in the field of education, growing their practice and values as teachers - all while providing wonderful, heart-felt learning opportunities for children. Out of this, however, has risen a beautiful culture full of dedicated professionals who are implementing a ‘culture of kindness’ within their teaching practice. There’s also an increasing expectation to continue an up-hill rise in quality (which is great!)…however without additional funding or time. We all know the ECE sector has had a hard time of late – pay parity issues, lack of funding from the government, overworked educators and a lack of support in special education. If you work anywhere within the NZ ECE sector you would have most likely heard the term “Culture of Kindness.” It’s become a prominent turn of phrase among industry leaders and teachers alike.
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