When Educators Pause, Children Flourish

A Day of Music, Mindfulness and Renewal in County Kildare

By Barbara Alessandrini

February 2026

There is a quiet truth at the heart of early childhood education: when educators are well, children thrive.

Every day across County Kildare, educators hold space for children’s emotions, discoveries, friendships and big feelings. They regulate, reassure, encourage, and inspire. They create environments where learning is relational, playful and deeply human. In the busy rhythm of daily practice, personal wellbeing often takes a backseat. At our wellbeing event in the Kilashee Hotel we crafted a space to softly reconnect and prioritise what truly matters.

A Space to Pause

Thirty educators, managers and leaders from ELC and SAC settings came together for the dedicated wellbeing event centered on music, mindfulness and meaningful reflection.

The intention was simple: to pause, reconnect, and recharge. We were delighted to welcome two inspiring facilitators – Jackie Maguire and Leesa Flanagan.

Jackie Maguire invited participants into the joy of music and movement. Through rhythm, play and shared laughter, the room shifted. Creativity wasn’t something to ‘deliver’ – it was something to experience. Jackie demonstrated how music supports children’s self-regulation and emotional expression, while also reminding us that joy belongs in adult spaces too.

Leesa Flanagan guided an experiential session focused on mindfulness and educator wellbeing. Through short meditations and relatable practice-based scenarios, she offered accessible strategies for managing stress and strengthening resilience. Participants explored grounding techniques they could bring into both their professional and personal lives.

Leesa also shared practical mindfulness approaches suitable for babies, toddlers and young children – including breathing support, quiet spaces and mindful literacy experiences. These approaches strongly echo the updated Aistear framework’s emphasis on co-regulation and relational pedagogy. Moments of stillness sat comfortably alongside laughter and movement. The balance felt important.

Voices from the Room

Throughout the day, there was a strong sense of openness and shared understanding.

Participants reflected:

“I came away feeling energised and carefree, so thank you. Lunch was most enjoyable and what a wonderful way for us to network!”

“Very enjoyable day thank you. Beautiful guest speakers & venue & KCCC staff”

Why Wellbeing Matters in Practice

Wellbeing is not an add-on to quality – it underpins it. Research highlights that mindfulness practices support educators to manage stress and sustain resilience. Music and movement programs have been shown to strengthen self-regulation – a foundation for children’s social and emotional development.

But beyond research, the lived experience in the room told its own story: When educators feel supported, they are better equipped to support others.

The updated Aistear framework reminds us that adult–child coregulation lays out the groundwork for children’s developing self-regulation. To offer calm, attuned responses, educators need opportunities to nurture their own emotional awareness and wellbeing.

Supporting educators is therefore not only a professional priority – it is a rights-based commitment to children’s holistic development.

An Invitation

As you read this, I invite you to pause for a moment…

• What supports your own wellbeing in practice?
• Where might you build in small moments of music, movement or mindful pause?
• Who can you connect with for shared reflection?

This event was one step in an ongoing commitment to supporting educators across the county of Kildare. We look forward to continuing to create spaces where professionals feel valued, connected, and inspired. Because caring for educators is caring for children. And when educators pause – children flourish.