EITP hosts Self-Care Café is a live, monthly, and informal online discussion group meeting on the 2nd Monday of every month at 9 am central to support each other's self-care practices. Join as your schedule allows! Registration is required and credit is provided. During each Self-Care Café session, we will gather with peers to explore mindfulness and self-care routines and strategies. We will share practical information, set our own personal self-care goals, and support each other in a relaxed atmosphere of mindfulness and gratitude while building a community of mindful early interventionists, creating an opportunity to learn and connect with each other. Each cafe begins with a short breath awareness and/or meditation activity. Please visit our EITP Events page to register for upcoming meetings.
Register for Upcoming Self-Care Cafes
In addition to the Self-Care Cafes, EITP hosts "Focus on Self-Care Dimensions" on the 4th Thursday of every month from 2-3 pm, which takes a deeper dive into one of the self-care dimensions and is another monthly live, informal online discussion group to explore mindfulness and support each other's self-care practices. Registration is required and credit is provided. Join as your schedule allows! Each session begins with a short breath awareness and/or meditation activity followed by a self-care assessment. Focusing on a specific self-care dimension each month, we will engage in reflection and self-care practices, share practical information and actionable strategies, as we set our own personal self-care goals. Upcoming months' dimension focus:
- January: Personal/Spiritual
- February: Social
- March: Professional
- April: Emotional/Psychological
- May: Physical
Register for Upcoming Focus on Self-Care Dimensions
Resources:
Join our Facebook Group! Search for us on Facebook using "Mindful Early Interventionist"
Zero to Three "Getting Started with Mindfulness: A Toolkit for Early Childhood Organizations"
Self Care Assessment from Therapist Aid
Self Care Wheel from Olga Phoenix
Being Mindful - EITP Announcement
ToBeCaitlin video library - a lifestyle page created Caitlin Coan to share the traditional practices of yoga and meditation as well as healthy, plant-based recipes, and wellness habits to integrate into daily life.
Books from Thích Nhất Hạnh - Thích Nhất Hạnh was a Vietnamese Thiền Buddhist monk, peace activist, prolific author, poet, teacher, and founder of the Plum Village Tradition, historically recognized as the main inspiration for engaged Buddhism. Known as the "father of mindfulness", Nhất Hạnh was a major influence on Western practices of Buddhism.
Being Mindful in a Busy World (pdf) from the University of Illinois Extension
"Feeling Frazzled? Remember M.I.N.D.F.U.L" Infographic from Shamash Alidina
Mindfulness, Breathe, and Yoga in Early Intervention resource page from EITP
Mindful Parenting Resource Guide from the Illinois EI Clearinghouse
Resource List for Calm in the Chaos of COVID-19: Helping the Helpers from EITP Webinar
The Power of Mindfulness: Practical Tips to Help Children Feel Safe and Secure from Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak for Brookes Publishing
Search YouTube, Spotify, or other video/music streaming services for guided meditation, breath/yoga exercises, or relaxation music.
Sources with additional resources, such as newsletters, articles, and practice guides:
Mindful.org
Self-Compassion.org
Mantra Magazine - available in print or online
10% Happier Book Series:
- 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works – A True Story (2014) by Dan Harris ISBN 9781444799064
- Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-to Book (2017) by Dan Harris, co-authored with Jeff Warren and Carlye Adler ISBN 9780399588945
Podcasts:
Happiness Break from Greater Good Magazine
10% Happier podcasts
Apps:
Please note that some of the apps may charge for use.
Insight Timer
Calm
10% Happier Meditation App - AppStore or Google Play
Headspace
Disclaimer
The information provided on this Website is not intended to take the place of either the written law or regulations. The opinions, resources, and links provided on the Website are intended for information purposes only and are not intended to take the place of medical or legal advice, or of other appropriate services. The content of the Website does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Illinois Early Intervention Training Program, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, or the Illinois Department of Human Services; nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the Illinois Early Intervention Training Program, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, or the Illinois Department of Human Services.
