Contents |
| Introduction: Applying the science of wellbeing to early childhood education | 4 |
| Why educators need high levels of wellbeing | 4 |
| Leading change | 5 |
| How to use this book | 5 |
| 1. Relationships matter | 7 |
| Ways of supporting high-quality relationships | 7 |
| Relationships in the early childhood environment | 12 |
| How to cultivate more positive relationships for 'me' | 15 |
| How to cultivate more positive relationships for 'we' | 15 |
| 2. Exploring emotions | 17 |
| Benefits of positive emotions in early childhood education | 18 |
| Experiences of emotions | 21 |
| Cultivating positive emotions | 22 |
| How to cultivate more positive emotions for 'me' | 25 |
| How to cultivate more positive emotions for 'we' | 26 |
| 3. Resilience | 27 |
| Resilience for 'me' | 28 |
| Resilience for 'we' | 31 |
| Benefits of increased resilience | 32 |
| Building resilience in early childhood educators | 32 |
| How to cultivate resilience for 'me' | 33 |
| How to cultivate resilience for 'we' | 33 |
| 4. Strengths | 34 |
| Benefits of using strengths | 34 |
| Strengths development | 35 |
| Strengths spotting | 38 |
| Applying strengths in early childhood education | 40 |
| How to cultivate strengths for 'me' | 41 |
| How to cultivate strengths for 'we' | 42 |
| 5. Cultivating mindfulness | 43 |
| What mindfulness means | 44 |
| Types of mindfulness | 44 |
| Benefits of mindfulness | 45 |
| How educators can apply mindfulness | 46 |
| How to cultivate more mindfulness for 'me' | 46 |
| How to cultivate more mindfulness for 'we' | 49 |
| 6. Kindness and compassion | 50 |
| What kindness and compassion mean | 51 |
| Kindness and compassion for 'me' | 51 |
| Kindness and compassion for 'we' | 53 |
| Applying kindness and compassion in early child education | 54 |
| How to cultivate more kindness and compassion for 'me' | 56 |
| How to cultivate more kindness and compassion for 'we' | 57 |
| 7. Habits and goals | 58 |
| Benefits of pursuing goals | 59 |
| Building hope | 59 |
| Goals | 60 |
| Habits | 63 |
| How to cultivate habits and goals for 'me' | 67 |
| How to cultivate habits and goals for 'we' | 67 |
| Appendix A: Metta meditation (loving kindness) for educators | 68 |
| Appendix B: Hope House poster | 69 |
| Key sources and further exploration | 70 |