This week is Children’s Mental Health Week (3-9 February) organised by the charity Place2Be. This year’s theme is Know Yourself, Grow Yourself – aiming to empower children and young people and amplify their voice. The campaign is supported by Here4You and The Walt Disney Company, with characters of Pixar’s Inside Out and Inside Out 2 featuring in downloadable resources you can use throughout the week!
New framework for social and emotional development
Yesterday (2 February) The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood published a new ‘Shaping Us’ framework aimed at improving awareness of and knowledge about social and emotional skills, covering the early years through to adulthood. The framework is hoped to be used at various levels, for example promoting conversations between early years practitioners and parents about the development of social and emotional skills.
PACEY member resources
PACEY members can access a range of resources in MyPACEY to help support the mental health of children in your setting.
- For a great overview on supporting emotional and mental health in very young children, catch up on our PACEY Live webinar Beyond Behaviour with the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families.
- Our range of CEY smart courses provide free training on issues such as attachment, transitions, self-regulation, bereavement and more.
- We also have a wealth resources and information on topics such as supporting behaviour and emotional wellbeing, managing feelings and behaviour, children’s emotional needs and much more.
- Aligned with the theme of Know Yourself, Grow Yourself, PACEY’s blog from psychologist and education expert Gemma Goldenberg explores the concepts of ‘stick-ability’ and ‘bounce-back-ability’ to help children build persistence and resilience.
Personal, social and emotional development in the early years: a handbook for practitioners: We were delighted to contribute to this practical guide published in September 2022. It was developed by the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families to help early years practitioners to support the healthy PSED of children in your setting. Download the handbook to read helpful advice and take part in reflective activities.
For lots more information and downloadable links to help you support the children in your setting, visit PACEY’s dedicated Early Minds Matter Spotlight.
