The Getting Started with Mindfulness Toolkit is a practical, evidence-informed guide designed to help early years professionals bring mindfulness into their daily work and organisational culture. Created by ZERO TO THREE, this toolkit provides early childhood services with clear, step-by-step strategies to introduce, implement and sustain mindfulness practices that support staff wellbeing, strengthen workplace climate and enhance relationships with children and families.
This is not just a resource about mindfulness theory. It is packed with real-world tools, reflection questions, example activities, and case studies from early years settings. The toolkit shows how mindfulness can help early childhood professionals reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, and become more responsive and present in their work with young children.
What You Will Learn from This Toolkit:
-
What mindfulness is and how it helps early years practitioners improve focus, calmness and connection
-
Four key areas supported by mindfulness: attention, emotional regulation, perspective-taking and self-compassion
-
How to start a personal mindfulness practice—and why it is important to begin with yourself
-
How to assess interest and build buy-in across your team or organisation
-
Ways to embed mindfulness into team meetings, reflective supervision, and everyday routines
-
Activities for individuals, teams and children—including breathing exercises, mindful meeting openers and calming tools
-
Practical advice on creating a culture of self-care, compassion and emotional safety in your workplace
How This Toolkit Can Be Used
This toolkit is ideal for nursery and preschool settings, early intervention teams, family support services, and anyone working with or alongside early childhood educators. It can be used as part of staff wellbeing strategies, professional development, or reflective supervision programmes. Leadership teams can use it to improve communication, morale and psychological safety across their organisation. Individual practitioners can also use it to develop mindfulness skills that help manage stress, build resilience and maintain emotional presence in their work.
Who Is This Resource For?
-
Early childhood professionals, nursery staff and preschool teams
-
Managers, supervisors and leaders in early years settings
-
Family support workers, health visitors and early help practitioners
-
Organisations looking to improve workplace wellbeing and team cohesion
-
Anyone interested in building a more mindful and compassionate early years culture
The Getting Started with Mindfulness Toolkit is more than just a wellbeing guide. It is a practical, compassionate framework for supporting those who support young children. If you are looking for a free, accessible and highly useful mindfulness resource for the early years workforce, this toolkit is an excellent place to begin.
