Promoting Well-Being in the Pre-School Years

<p><em>Promoting Well-Being in the Pre-School Years</em> provides evidence-based research and real-life strategies that support social and emotional development and well-being for children aged 3–5 years. It places emphasis on nurturing social emotional competence through purposeful scaffolding activities and how these can be used by children and families to create a harmonious platform for building resilience and positive relationships with family and the community.</p><p>Drawing on principles from Positive Psychology and Positive Education it is illustrated throughout with examples of sustainable practice in diverse global settings. Key topics explored include:</p><ul> <ul> </ul> <li>Contemporary well-being concepts including ‘grit’ ‘growth mindset’ and ‘gratitude’ as well as ‘classic’ constructs such as coping and self-efficacy </li> <ul> </ul> <li>The attitudes and skills that need to be developed to ensure that young children flourish </li> <ul> </ul> <li>Cognitive and sociocultural perspectives complemented by neuroscience and epigenetics </li> <ul> </ul> <li>Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in the early years curriculum </li> <ul> </ul> <li>Using visual tools – the Early Years Coping Cards </li> <ul> </ul> <li>How we measure young children’s coping </li> <ul> </ul> <li>The relationship between coping stress and mental health </li> <ul> </ul> <li>Recognition of the importance of parents’ own coping skills </li> <ul> </ul> <li>How partnerships with communities can improve children’s SEL.</li> <ul> </ul> </ul><p>Promoting Well-Being in the Pre-School Years shows how we can support young children to develop an understanding of what it means to be happy and to flourish as a socially responsible member of the family and wider community. It is essential reading for teachers parents and professionals who work with young children as well as academics in child development.</p>