Qualification: NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator
Unit: Unit 1.4: Promote children’s emotional well-being
Learning outcome: Be able to promote the emotional wellbeing of children in own setting
Assessment criteria: Work with children in a way that: supports independence, builds resilience and perseverance, builds confidence, supports self-reliance, equips children to protect themselves, builds relationships between children
For this assessment criterion, you will be required to demonstrate that you are able work with children in a way that supports independence, builds resilience and perseverance, builds confidence, supports self-reliance, equips children to protect themselves and builds relationships between children.
Supporting independence, self-reliance, resilience, perseverence and building confidence
Children need opportunities to practise and develop their skills in order to become confident and independent.
Acknowledge and praise a child when they attempt to do something on their own.
Make sure age-appropriate equipment and resources are available and accessible to children.
Model how tasks are performed, then encourage the child to have a go themselves.
Try to avoid doing things for children they can do themselves. This will help them to develop a sense of competence and capability.
Encourage children to persevere with tasks, even when they find them challenging. Help them to identify strategies for problem-solving.
Promote independence by giving children choices and letting them make decisions. Allow them time and space to explore, play and experiment, and encourage them to take risks in a safe environment. Respect their abilities, feelings and ideas and support their efforts to be competent and independent learners.
Equipping children to protect themselves
One of the best ways to protect children is to empower them with knowledge and confidence.
When caring for children, it is important to promote their dignity by supporting them in tasks such as toileting and nappy changing. Children should be encouraged to do as much as possible independently, and older children should be given more privacy.
It is also vital to teach children that their body belongs to them and that they have a right to speak up about any secrets that make them feel upset. Initiatives and resources, such as Pantosaurus, can assist with this.
By equipping children with the tools they need to protect themselves, we can create a safer world for all.
Building relationships between children
It is important that children have opportunities to interact with other children in positive ways.
Group activities provide structure and support for children to learn how to take turns, share, and cooperate with others. Games also teach children about rules, communication, and problem-solving.
As children get older, they should be encouraged to resolve their own disagreements. This does not mean that adults should not intervene when necessary, but it is important for children to learn how to handle conflicts on their own.
When children cooperate with each other, this should be acknowledged and praised. This will help encourage positive behaviour in the future.