Positive Psychology in Practice: Supporting Early Years Wellbeing

Hello March! The time for spring cleaning and bringing in the new. At Time to Connect I believe this is also the perfect time to consider reflecting on our old habits and think about what new habits would work for us in order to improve our wellbeing. A time to plant out new idea, develop a growth mindset to embark on and decide which individual techniques may help us flourish and bloom into 2025.

Positive psychology in the early years focuses on promoting well-being, resilience, and positive emotions in young children. It is based on the belief that fostering strengths, emotions, and behaviours that contribute to overall happiness and success can have a lasting impact on a child's development.

Here are some key aspects of positive psychology in early childhood:

1. Fostering Positive Emotions

• Encouraging children to experience and express joy, gratitude, curiosity, and excitement.

• Helping children recognise and label their emotions, which can lead to better emotional regulation and coping strategies.

  
  

2. Building Resilience

• Teaching children how to face challenges, learn from mistakes, and bounce back after setbacks.

• Using strategies like positive reinforcement, praise for effort, and promoting a growth mindset.

  
  

3. Strengthening Social Connections

• Encouraging positive relationships with peers and adults through play, group activities, and collaborative learning.

• Teaching empathy, kindness, and respect for others, which can enhance children's social well-being.

  
  

4. Developing Optimism and Hope

• Helping children see challenges as opportunities for growth.

• Encouraging goal-setting and developing a sense of hope and agency.

  
  

5. Promoting Self-Compassion and Self-Esteem

• Supporting children in developing a positive sense of self, feeling valued, and recognising their unique strengths.

• Encouraging a balanced approach to self-worth, focusing on effort rather than outcomes alone.

  
  

6. Play-Based Learning

• Using play as a tool to promote creativity, problem-solving, and social interaction.

• Play is also an important way for children to experience positive emotions, express themselves, and develop social skills.

  
  

7. Parent and Caregiver Involvement

• Encouraging positive parenting practices that foster emotional support, open communication, and active listening.

• Helping caregivers understand how their actions can promote their child's well-being.

  
  

8. Mindfulness and Well-being Practices

• Introducing mindfulness techniques that help children become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations.

• Simple activities like breathing exercises, relaxation, and focusing on the present moment can help reduce stress and increase emotional regulation.

  
  

9. Encouraging a Growth Mindset

• Helping children understand that abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work and perseverance, which encourages resilience and a positive approach to challenges.

  
  

When positive psychology is integrated into early years education, it can create an environment where children not only thrive academically but also socially and emotionally, providing a strong foundation for lifelong well-being.

There are natural links between early childhood educational theory and practice and the science of positive psychology. Opportunities exist for implementing positive psychology interventions in the delivery of quality early childhood education. Frameworks outline a focus on wellbeing and we can provide tools, training and interventions in the science of wellbeing (Baker et al.,2017).

Over the last 25 years, the effectiveness of positive psychology interventions for the development of the well-being has been largely demonstrated. However, little is known about the impact of these interventions on young children. Yet those that have been published demonstrated the importance of positive psychology interventions with young children to promote positive aspects of development, such as gratitude, positive emotions, life satisfaction, accomplishment, positive relationship, or self-esteem (Benoit and Gabola, 2021).

I hope you enjoyed reading this and it inspires you to want to learn more.

Dr Jan Macfarlane

Baker, L., Green, S. and Falecki, D., 2017. Positive early childhood education: Expanding the reach of positive psychology into early childhood. European Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 1(8), pp.1-12. https://www.thepositivityinstitute.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/BakerGreenFalecki-EJAPP-Positive-early-childhood-education.pdf

Benoit, V. and Gabola, P., 2021. Effects of positive psychology interventions on the well-being of young children: A systematic literature review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(22), p.12065. http://doi/10.3390/ijerph182212065