Abstract

Positive emotional health in a child's earliest years can be a critical factor in their future development. Offering practical suggestions for games, activities and exercises designed to promote emotional wellbeing in young children, this essential guide showcases a wide range of approaches such as mindfulness and meditation, Forest School and Reggio Emilia to provide a hands-on reference for teachers and parents.

Drawing on over 25 years' experience as an early years professional, the author explores topics including playfulness, stillness, sensory play, creativity and staff wellbeing. Each topic references current best practices and international examples, and also includes a comprehensive list of further resources and activities. Providing an informative introduction to both theory and practice, this book demonstrates easy-to-implement ideas for any professional or parent engaging with young children.

With increasing awareness of mental health issues, the importance of identifying needs and providing support are increasingly crucial. The author has a vast range of experience in working with early years children, and shares her best practice and knowledge.
Janet Dowling
School Library Association
This is a rich resource full of creative ideas, accessible references and thoughtful questions to move all of our practice forward to develop positive mental health and wellbeing for young children. Firmly based on experience, it is full of interventions that really work. I know - I've tried them!
Ruth Fergusson, Senior Educational Psychologist, Brighter Futures CIC

The strength of this book is in the author's knowledge of the early years sector; she draws on and explains the benefits of familiar resources and developmental perspectives in promoting children's mental health...
I would recommend this book to all leaders and managers of learning in early years settings who are committed to promoting wellbeing, and who are keen to share this practice with colleagues and parents in an effort to ensure emotionally secure foundations to young children's learning.

Montessori International
Parents and professionals will find this an invaluable guide to developing the wellbeing of the children in their care. A range of techniques are drawn on by the author who gently guides us, urging us beyond our comfort zones through intelligent questioning and the chance to reflect and grow.
Dr Pooky Knightsmith, child & adolescent mental health specialist and author of The Big Feelings Activity Book and The Healthy Coping Colouring Book and Journal
This important and accessible book is essential reading for professionals working with young children and their parents. It is packed full of relevant, practical ideas to support all aspects of a young child's health and wellbeing. The chapters skilfully explore a range of different ways that adults in settings, or in the home, can help to create suitable provision that will optimise young children's health and wellbeing. Reflective questions guide the reader to engage personally and professionally with the key points being raised by the author. Of particular note is the promotion of evidence based practices, such as mindfulness and emotion coaching, that are becoming increasingly endorsed by professionals across children's services and by parents in the home. Moreover, the author's ideas about co-adventuring and creativity offer thought provoking ways to support practice. The chapter devoted to adult wellbeing also addresses a key but often neglected issue - that the adults working with young children need to look after their own health and wellbeing in order to maximise children's health and wellbeing.
Dr Janet Rose, Principal, Norland College
In a world of constant change, progress, new ideas and the ever changing world of education, sometimes we lose sight of the axioms around what young children need to thrive. Through her writings, Sonia clearly states the core elements that make up environments where we can successfully support emotional health and wellbeing. Every early years practitioner should have a dog-eared copy of this book, reminding them of the essential basics that we all need in the promotion of healthy and happy children.
Fred Lacey, play therapist and nurture specialist