The early years are an important time in a child’s development…..a time when children develop social skills, and form values, attitudes and internal beliefs that can last a lifetime.   Social and emotional competence is a broad set of skills that children can develop to help them navigate social interactions and feelings.   Early childhood centre's are socially rich contexts and a key part of our curriculum is to give children the time, support and opportunities to practice and build their own competences, in a safe and secure space.    And research shows a strong link between emotional wellbeing at age 5 and later success in school across all curriculum areas.   These skills are woven throughout Te Whariki, our early childhood curriculum and include: 

          Resilience – to try again when things don’t go right

          Persistence – to keep trying when things get hard

          Curiosity – to explore the unknown

          Empathy – to recognise the needs of others

          Negotiation – to talk with others about what you need

          Problem solving – moving obstacles

          Communication –  respectfully making your voice and viewpoint heard 

          Emotional regulation – managing big feelings in a positive way

           Self management – the cognitive ability to learn

          Conflict resolution – constructively dealing with differences 

          Self belief – to know you are important, and that your voice matters

          Respect – for ourselves, for others and for our environment