KidsMatter Early Childhood Components
KidsMatter Early Childhood uses a risk and protective factor framework to focus on four components where early childhood services can strengthen the protective factors and minimise risk factors for children’s mental health and wellbeing. These four areas make up the core content of KidsMatter Early Childhood and are consistent with the KidsMatter Primary Schools initiative.
Component 1: Creating a sense of community
Component 1 focuses on services building a sense of community which promotes feelings of belonging and connectedness for all children, families and staff. This has been shown to have a positive effect on children’s mental health. It emphasises the importance of inclusion, positive relationships and collaboration towards building a sense of community for all involved in the service.
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Component 2: Developing children’s social and emotional skills
Social and emotional development involves developing the ability to recognise and manage emotions, show care and concern for others, make responsible decisions, establish positive relationships, and handle challenging situations effectively. Research has shown that the development of social and emotional skills is important for good mental health, and also for academic learning, development of values, and motivation to achieve and cooperate.
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Component 3: Working with parents and carers
The family is central to children’s mental health. Researchers have identified a range of family related risk and protective factors that influence children’s mental health. By working together with parents and carers, providing information and support, and helping families to develop support networks, early childhood services can make a significant difference to the mental health of children.
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Component 4: Helping children who are experiencing mental health difficulties
The early childhood years have been highlighted as a critical period when children are developing significant social, emotional and cognitive skills. When children experience mental health problems it can limit their capacity to access valuable learning opportunities. This in turn can impact on children’s ability to make successful life transitions, and learn and make progress in the longer term, which emphasises the importance of intervening early.
