A strong sense of wellbeing directly influences a child's ability to learn. When children feel well physically, mentally, socially and emotionally, it encourages the development of children’s innate exploratory drive, a sense of agency and a desire to interact with others.We have included toys and resources below which help promote a sense of health and wellbeing in children.
Children become strong in their social and emotional wellbeing.
This outcome is based on children making choices, accepting challenges, taking considered risks, managing change and coping with frustrations and the unexpected. Children show an increasing capacity to understand, self-regulate and manage their emotions in ways that reflect the feelings and needs of others. They can experience and share personal successes in learning and initiate opportunities for new learning in their home languages.
Resources which support this outcome include those that give children an opportunity to persevere in a task or through their play and provide the opportunity to build upon children's ideas and promote a sense of belonging, connectedness and wellbeing. Cooperative tasks, such as shared puzzles or games is a great way to achieve this. Resources which teach emotional awareness and mindfulness are another.
Children take increasing responsibility for their own health and physical wellbeing.
This outcome is based on children understanding their own bodily needs (i.e. hunger, tiredness, thirst, comfort, etc) and being able to communicate about them. It occurs when children feel happy, healthy, safe and connected to others. When they can engage in increasingly complex sensory-motor skills and movement patterns, combine gross and fine motor movement and balance to achieve increasingly complex patterns of activity including dance, creative movement and drama, and when they can develop spatial awareness. Part of this out come is also showing an increasing awareness of healthy lifestyles and good nutrition and increasing competence in personal hygiene, care and safety for themselves and others.
Resources and toys that help achieve this outcome include those that are used in dance, drama, movement and games. These include things like dress up's, play silkies, ball games or tossing games, music and yoga prompts. It also includes toys and tools to improve children’s fine and gross motor skills, awareness of healthy eating, and rest times. Climbing frames, Piklers, pegboards (for fine motor skills), pretend play healthy food toys and a quiet rest corner are some ideas educators can use.
