Nursery World - Essential Resources: Equip to support children's sense of self

Every child needs a secure and positive sense of their identity. Nicole Weinstein finds out how to sensitively resource your setting so that every child can celebrate their uniqueness

The enabling environment plays a ‘valuable role’ in helping children develop a ‘sense of self’.

Celebrating children’s uniqueness and what makes them special is a key part of nursery life. No matter what culture or ethnic background, gender or disability they have, every child needs to develop a secure and positive sense of their own identity.

‘Starting nursery is when “Who am I?” becomes an urgent question,’ explains Nancy Stewart, project lead for Birth to 5 Matters. ‘It’s often the child’s first experience of the wider social world, away from the home and family they know and belong. This disorientation matters deeply because we are social beings, and we rely on a sense of being known and belonging as a core part of our emotional wellbeing. For a child, feeling safe and cared for matters first and foremost, and this begins with being consistently noticed, heard and valued as an individual.’

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included