Nurturing children and supporting their wellbeing is vitally important, along with looking after the wellbeing of the staff who support them. Wellbeing Explained highlights the importance of wellbeing and explains key terms associated with wellbeing and mental health needs. Unpicking terms such as holistic development, self-esteem, SEMH, and anxiety, it uses practical examples and case studies to explain what these mean and how we can promote wellbeing through policy and practices.
Divided into two parts, the first provides a brief overview of the key terms associated with wellbeing in early childhood alongside examples of what they mean in practice. Part two then shares the principles that underpin promoting good wellbeing, such as prioritising staff wellbeing, adopting a loving pedagogy, keeping the child and family central to provision, and creating an enabling environment explaining the underlying ethos of a child-centred approach.
Part of the Key Concepts in Early Childhood Series, this is essential reading for early years practitioners and students that want to know and understand what they can do to support their own wellbeing and the children they work with.
Table of Contents:
Note from the series editor
Introduction
Part 1 - explaining the terms
Anxiety
ACEs
Attachment needs
Creativity/imagination
Depression
Dysregulation
Early intervention
Emotional regulation
Emotional literacy
Enabling environment
Fight/ flight/freeze/fawn
Holistic development
Listening to children
Loving Pedagogy
Leuven Scale
Joyfulness
Mental Health first aid
Nature Deficit Disorder
Nurture
Outdoors
SEMH
Self-compassion
Self-harm
Self-esteem
Selective Mutism
Self-regulation
Spiritual wellbeing
Stress
SSTEW scale
Thrive
Transitions
Wellbeing
Window of tolerance
Further reading / links
Part 2 - Embedding wellbeing practices
The rights of the child in relation to wellbeing
The role of the adult in relation to wellbeing
How the adult can prioritise their and their colleagues wellbeing
How we can create an enabling environment which promotes wellbeing
How we can engage parents and work in partnership with them when supporting their children’s wellbeing
How to write a wellbeing policy
Signposting for further advice
Staff training
References
About the Author :
Sonia Mainstone-Cotton currently works with Brighter Futures, a specialist team supporting 3- and 4-years-olds who have social, emotional, and mental health needs. She delivers training on children’s SEMH and wellbeing and has written 11 books.
Review :
I’m delighted to recommend Wellbeing Explained by Sonia Mainstone-Cotton for anyone interested in any type of Early Years wellbeing. This new book breaks down complex topics into understandable and useful insights and, as ever, Sonia offers practical advice, making it valuable for practitioners and parents alike. It's a heartfelt invitation to weave wellbeing into every aspect of our interactions with children.
Sonia uses examples from her own experience, like her morning coffee ritual and using clay in play schemes, to show how wellbeing practices can be integrated into daily life AND professional practice. These examples not only demonstrate effective strategies for supporting children's emotional health but also make the content relatable and actionable. The two-part structure of the book makes it useful both as a ‘dip in and out’ book and an accessible read from beginning to end.
This book is an essential read that I wholeheartedly endorse, brimming with wisdom, warmth, and a deep understanding of what it means to truly nurture wellbeing.
Kathy Brodie, Early Childhood Studies Lecturer
A marvellous book that shouts loudly “mental health and wellbeing matters” in the early foundation stages of childhood and throughout all of our lives. Thank you Sonia.
Jamel C Campbell, Early Years Educator
