Relationships, Interactions, and Guidance:

Pause for Inspiration

Breadcrumb trail:

Find inspiration, joy, and creativity in everyday things.

Do you find that you often consider your needs last, or not at all? Maybe this happens because you don't have time, you're just too tired at the end of a busy day or week, or you haven't really thought about how you might relax? We all need to find ways to energize and renew ourselves in order to stay with the demanding work of early care and education. Only when we truly care for ourselves and stimulate our creativity, can we fully care for and stimulate others. CompSAT offers tools and surprises that will help you on your path to renewal and reinvigoration.

A teacher observes a young boy stacking toy rocks.

When the going gets rough, what inspires you to carry on? How do you replenish and renew when you're feeling burned out? How do you reconnect with the deeper sense of purpose of your work?

Try This!

Reconnect to your sense of wonder.

A close up of tree branches from a wooden shelter.
A close up of tree branches from a wooden shelter.
A wooden shelter for children to sit in.
A wooden shelter for children to sit in.
Two little girls hugging each other.
Two little girls hugging each other.
  • Create something that comes from your inspiration or that inspires you and include it in your portfolio.
  • Write a poem or story, draw a picture, or create a piece of art from found materials or natural objects.

There are no templates for the Pause for Inspiration Key. This is a place to take a moment for yourself.

Deepen Your Understanding

California Early Childhood Educator Competencies

Consider one source of inspiration found in the Topic: Relationship with nature in Performance Area 2 in the CA ECE Competencies. Scroll to page 34.

What other sources of inspiration are meaningful to you?

Download the California ECE Competencies

California Early Childhood Educator Competencies