A combination of theory and hands-on practical activities characterises this accessible book written for early years educators by an accomplished author and lecturer. The goal is to show how mindfulness, loosely described as an awareness of living in the present from one moment to the next, can be embedded into a learning environment for the youngest of children.
So, the book provides a step-by-step guide steeped in easy-to-use activities. Case studies interspersed throughout serve as a toolkit for teachers and inspiration for how to build these ideas into the curriculum for infants.
Chapter 1 introduces the application of mindfulness in early years settings. Chapter 2 identifies how teachers can build the curriculum to provide an environment for toddlers with mindfulness at its heart. Chapter 3 concentrates on developing this within indoor and outdoor areas. A consideration of mindfulness and staff is explored in Chapter 4.
Chapter 5 provides a wide range of resources and activities to introduce mindfulness to children, and Chapter 6 consolidates what is learned previously and highlights the essential purpose of the book.
There's no shortage of definitions of mindfulness and related concepts in this study. While, on the one hand, these tend to be a little overworked, their value should not be understated given some of the complex themes explored.
An interplay of complexity and simplicity is evident but at times appears to be perhaps a little too cumbersome. Descriptions of some of the images and the choice of figures do tend to exemplify this. For instance one caption reads ‘Adult with baby looking at book’, yet on page 53 there is an image described as ‘brain regions and functions’, with references to the neocortex and prefrontal lobes.
The introduction of different theoretical ideas and practice here, though not always recognised by Mukadam, is indeed time- honoured and their value in be traced to the earlier work of private teachers in Victorian England. Yet few historical facts are recorded, and the book has no less worth as a result. The book then purposefully considers the role of mindfulness in modern techniques in early years settings.
Mukadam is humble in her approach to targeting the above- mentioned issues, and tends not to bite off more than she canchew. She concedes, at one point, when discussing the origin of mindfulness that it is not a straightforward question to answer.
The recent growing interest in education policy and mental health is not ignored and is indeed validated when one evaluates the kind of work conducted by the former Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA). The quango, when up and running, very much pushed the boat out in its interventions to address the problems facing children with regards to their mental health. Although the QCDA campaigned for the reform of Key Stage 1, the corresponding ethos to help younger and younger children has been more apparent in recent years.
Overall, this book boldly explores the pedagogical essence of mindfulness in early years. It does so incorporating a variety of experiences at the chalkface as well as giving a critical and informed account of relevant theoretical interpretations.
Such an approach enhances the acumen of modern early years educators as well as helping to forge an important bond between the infant and teacher. The outcome is the prospect of young children and their teachers becoming intellectually and emotionally fulfilled.
- Mindfulness in Early Years: Strategies and Approaches to Nurturing Young Minds by Yasmin Mukadam Routledge, November 2023 pp186, £19.99 ISBN: 978-0-36714-208-7
