Health and Wellbeing in the Early Years

Research shows that there is a significant relationship between health and wellbeing in early childhood and later life. It is therefore crucial that those who work with young children understand the factors that influence children’s wellbeing and health and know what their responsibilities and those of other health professionals entail.

This new textbook offers an accessible introduction to health and wellbeing in the early years. It explores what is meant by physical, social, emotional, intellectual and spiritual wellbeing and explains its importance for young children especially in relation to their health and protection. Providing all the essential knowledge needed to understand the interplay of issues surrounding children’s health and wellbeing, the book covers:

• who cares for children’s health

• parenting and attachment;

• safeguarding and child protection;

• multidisciplinary partnerships;

• social and economic wellbeing;

• family matters;

• inequalities and health.

Including case studies and reflective questions, this book is ideal for students taking Foundation Degrees in Early Years and Childhood Studies courses as well as practitioners working with young children.

Sue Greenfield is a senior lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at the University of Roehampton. She trained as a nurse and worked in hospitals for several years before training as a Health Visitor working in London and in Surrey. She later gained experience of nursery settings, and was responsible for a sixty place nursery in South Eastern England for a number of years. She has been a member of the Froebel Research Fellowship team for eight years and has given conference papers on this research in Reyjavik, Prague, Yokohama, and many different early childhood centres in UK.