Being mentally healthy in early childhood enables babies and young children to understand and cope with emotions, experience meaningful, nurturing relationships, and explore, play and learn. This book supports early years practitioners to develop and consider the quality of their interactions and to understand how to meet children’s emotional needs effectively.

The book considers what every child needs to feel safe, secure and loved. Offering a whole setting approach to emotional health and wellbeing, it outlines essential knowledge on brain development, environments, and working with parents. Chapters cover neuroscientific theories on early brain development and practice, and are aligned to typical child development, offering practical evidence-based strategies and activities to secure children’s emotional wellbeing both now and as they grow.

Including reflective tasks and suggestions for individual and group activities, this is essential reading for early years practitioners and students. It will also be valuable reading for parents.