Aug 30, 2023
In this blog, we will explore the how our enrichment My Happy and Healthy Self helps children’s development and its importance within the Early Years.
The Brighter Learning Approach is our own unique pathway to Creating Brighter Futures Together. Within the approach, there are six enrichments each helping to develop essential skills for lifelong learning.
Children’s personal, social and emotional development (PSED) is crucial for children to lead healthy and happy lives. Underpinning their personal development are the important attachments that shape their social world.
Therefore, one of our enrichments within the Brighter Learning Approach is My Happy and Healthy Self, which aims to help children’s social and emotional development. This is supported with the 3 aspects – Marvellous Me, Magnificent Movers and Healthy Me.
Explaining the My Happy and Healthy Self enrichment
Each of the 3 aspects linked to My Happy and Healthy Self help to support and develop children’s learning. These are broken down as shown below:
Marvellous Me
Having caring, empathetic and friendly adults around helps children to learn about their own feelings and how others feel too. Children are supported to learn about how to handle their emotions, develop a positive sense of self, setting themselves small goals, believing in what they can do, to keep on trying even if things might be difficult, being patient, and being resilient.
Click here to read more and discover activities related to Marvellous Me
Magnificent Movers
Physical activity and movement play a crucial role in children’s holistic growth and wellness. In the Early Years, as children’s minds and bodies are developing, consistent physical activity contributes to promoting healthy growth and development.
Engaging in physical activities helps to enhance children’s gross motor skills, balance, coordination, and strength – all of which are important for everyday tasks. Additionally, regular physical activity boosts children’s mental health, emotional balance, and sharpens their focus, memory, and ability to solve problems.
Click here to read more and discover activities related to Magnificent Movers.
Healthy Me
Educating children about the significance of maintaining their health can equip them with essential self-care abilities and empower them to have high self-esteem and confidence as they grow. It is important to inspire young children to prioritise their well-being by fostering positive routines, like looking after their teeth, staying active, and embracing a balanced diet enriched with nutritious foods.
Click here to read more and discover activities related to Healthy Me
What are some of the benefits of developing social and emotional skills across our nurseries?
We provide focused opportunities for children to develop their communication and interaction skills with their peers and key carers, so that children learn to express their thoughts, feelings, and needs while understanding others’ emotions.
Engaging in social interactions exposes children to various emotions and situations. This helps them develop empathy, a key component of emotional intelligence, as they learn to recognise and understand other people’s feelings.
Interacting with different personalities in a nurturing environment allows children to form positive relationships. These early connections foster a sense of belonging and build trust, setting the foundation for healthy relationships in the future.
Our nurseries offer a safe space to navigate differences of opinion, teaching children how to resolve conflicts through effective communication, compromise, empathy and understanding.
Experiencing success in social interactions and building relationships bolsters children’s self-esteem and confidence. Positive feedback and support from key carers and peers contribute to a healthy self-image, promoting a sense of self-worth.
Our My Happy and Healthy Self enrichment helps to boost children’s social and emotional development, ready for their next stage of learning.
Blog checked by: Kat Learner (Training & Professional Development Manager)