Learner Wellbeing

Maintaining a healthy well being across transition and change.

Context for study

• Observations of children

• Children’s behaviour

• Apparent loss of skills

• What happens during transition to cause SOME children to lose their healthy wellbeing?

Transition

• Change in environment– Focus for learning changes

• Relationships change

• Child’s sense of self– Parents– Educators– Child

Transition

• Literature

– Systemic issues

– Child’s changing identity

– No identification of what the child brings to the process of transition

Transition

• Big questions

– What does the child bring to the transition process?

• This will help to inform curriculum

– What is well being?

Dimensions of Wellbeing

Aspects of Dimensions

Sense of meaning and purpose,

altruism,

Sense of connectedness

Coping, autonomy, trust, attachment

Curiosity, motivation, persistence

Relationships, empathy, sympathy

Nutrition, physical activity, physical safety

Wellbeing

physical

Segments (dimensions) of Wellbeing

Emotional

Cognitive spiritual

social

Emotional

coping

autonomy

trust

attachment

Physical

Nutrition

physical activity

physical safety

Spiritual

beliefs

values

sense of meaning and purpose

altruism

sense of connectedness

social

relationships

positive social behaviour

empathy

sympathy

cognitive

curiosity

motivation

persistence

memory

thinking

intelligence

physical

Dimensions of Wellbeing

Emotional

Cognitive spiritual

social

Core elements of an effective learner

Bertram and Pascal(2002)

Dispositions to learn

Social Competence and Self concept Emotional Wellbeing

Relationships

Self respect

Self worth

Assertiveness

Empathy

Vitality

Sense of humour

Relationships

Self respect

Self worth

Assertiveness

Empathy

Vitality

Sense of humour

Self esteem

Emotional literacy

Connectedness

Participation

Assertiveness

empowerment

Self esteem

Emotional literacy

Connectedness

Participation

Assertiveness

Empowerment

Management of emotions

Resilience, self motivation, independence, creativity,

Framework for Resilient Wellbeing.

• Created by Rosemary Roberts

• Companiable learning from birth to three years.

• Dimensions don’t work in isolation but are inextricably linked (foregrounding and backgrounding, Carr 2001).

Agency

• Learning dispositions• Self regulation• Identity• Self esteem• Autonomy• Empowerment• Pride• Physical achievement• Ability to influence

Belonging and Boundaries

• Attachment• Security• Trust• Acceptance• Expectations• Routines• Responsibilities• Conformity

Communication

• Listening• Talking• Watching• Movement• Representation• Touching• Smelling• Tasting

Zing!

• Eating

• Sleeping

• Coordination

• Exercise

• Being outside

• Keeping safe

• Laughing

What is the role of education today for the adults of tomorrow?

“The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future life”

-Plato

We have an enormous responsibility!!

What is the role of education today for the adults of tomorrow?

• Academic achievement?

• Life long healthy individuals? (nearly one in five Australians are affected by mental health issues.

Almost 20% of children have mental problems. Wingfield 2002)

• Is it the role of early childhood educators to prepare children for ‘real school’ or for ‘real life’?

How healthy is the wellbeing of your community?• The environments in which we work are

communities of learners

• Research shows that early childhood educators (especially Kindergarten teachers) are at significant risk in terms of wellbeing.

• What are you doing to ensure a sense of wellbeing in your community of learners?