Editor’s view - Keep it in mind
Monday, May 30, 2016
Emotions have been running high for children, parents and teachers in the past few weeks of SATs, with tales of impossible questions, leaked papers, and playground tears.
Modern life seems full of more and more stress for young children and their families, with benefit reform, funding cuts to essential services and ever greater inequality. Social media and sedentary, indoor lifestyles are in the mix too, along with the pressures of ‘school-readiness’ and SATs leading to formal schooling at an ever younger age.
On an international level, the continuing refugee and migrant crisis has terrible consequences for the well-being of the children involved.
So it seems to be an ideal time to devote a whole issue of Nursery World to the subject of emotional well-being and mental health.
Our news and analysis section looks at a new report into the effects on young refugee and migrant children denied access to health services, and the results of the Achieving Early programme in lessening the effects of disadvantage. We also examine the ’epidemic’ in teenage mental health problems – the reality, the causes and the need for more help.
There is plenty of best practice advice, on physical development, language delays, the need for ‘green’, mindfulness nurture groups and infant mental health. We examine the stressful role of grandparent carers and the benefits of high-quality parenting programmes.
Early years staff are essential to providing support, and we have advice on minimising stress caused by ‘difficult’ parents, plus lots of training courses, guides, books, articles and more.
We hope you will find much to think about and support you in your vital work.
