Promoting children’s wellbeing in an educational context

Abstract

The topicality and the context of this research are related to the phenomenon of wellbeing and factors influencing it, regarding early childhood and primary school. The aim is to study, analyse, and identify the key factors of promoting the wellbeing and healthy lifestyle of a child. Children’s wellbeing, therefore, and health and safety are more than just physical wellbeing; it should be seen holistically, as a whole welfare, and it depends not only on the environment where the child is raised, but also involves emotional support from all the people who are connected with this little human being. Thus, the first years for children at school and also for teachers (especially young teachers who have just begun their career) are a special time in their life because during this period the experience of what the child and the teacher is, and how strong and essential their connection will be, is formed. It is very important already at the early stage to understand that each child is different; they have different physical and emotional development, individual characteristics, as well as a different approach to understanding and learning things. Therefore, in the primary school it is important for the teachers to create a positive, highly social, interactive and creative environment so that the children can develop and learn more successfully. Wellbeing has a great importance in the school environment in order to create teachers’ and children’s satisfaction with life, positive relationships with others, as well as a positive and successful learning environment. The family, as well as the teachers who are involved in the development of the children’s lives, especially in the first grades at school, are one of the most essential factors that define the personal growth of the young children.