Practice the PAUSE. What does this mean? PAUSE is an acronym that guides educators toward mindful, supportive responses when working with children. Here's what each step means:
P - Pause and Breathe: Stop your immediate impulse. Take a deep, intentional breath and press "pause" physically. Drop your shoulders and plant your feet firmly on the ground.
A - Acknowledge and Assess: Recognize your own feelings (e.g., frustration, stress). Observe the child's body language, emotions, and the environment without interrupting or trying to "fix" it right away.
U - Understand: View the situation from the child’s perspective. Remember that their behavior is an expression of an unmet need or an overwhelming feeling, not a personal attack.
S - Strategize: Choose a mindful, supportive next step. Decide whether to use co-regulation, offer a choice, or ask a gentle open-ended question to help the child process their emotions.
E - Engage and Evaluate: Implement your strategy and reflect on how it went. Ask yourself if the interaction strengthened your connection with the child.
This method is taken from a variety of sources such as NAEYC, Conscious Discipline, ECE Learning Unlimited, and Second Step. The following are wonderful resources to dive a bit deeper into how you as an educator can implement the PAUSE for yourself but also model it in your classrooms. Educators are a protective factor for the children in their care.
Check out the article below for more information:
