Child Health and Wellbeing

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the HDisability Liaison Unit websiteH: Hhttp://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/H

This subject considers the range of factors affecting the physical, social, emotional, cultural, linguistic, mental and spiritual health of young children, and the role of early childhood teachers in supporting their capacity for wellbeing. Topics will include: the individual child and social connectedness; links to family, friends and community; social and cultural influences on children’s health, with a special emphasis on Indigenous health; attachment theory, resilience and coping; behaviour management, guidance and support; health, hygiene, nutrition and safety; regulatory requirements for environmental health and safety; disability, developmental delay, early intervention and inclusion; mandatory reporting; working with other professionals in supporting children’s wellbeing.

On completion of this subject, teacher candidates will have the knowledge, skills and understanding to enable them to:

• Design and implement a range of strategies to promote young children’s wellbeing;
• Foster young children’s connectedness with all members of their communities;
• Create inclusive learning environments that support the wellbeing of young children with a disability or developmental delay;
• Work collaboratively with families, communities and other professionals to support young children’s wellbeing;
• Work respectfully with families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;
• Work within regulatory frameworks governing health and safety in early childhood settings.
  

One assignment of 1000 words, due early in the semester (25%); one assignment of 2000 words due late in the semester (50%); contribution to the 30-minute oral Combined Assessment Task (combined with Curriculum Pedagogy and Assessment 2 and Early Language and Literacy), due in the examination period (25%).

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject, teacher candidates will be able to:

• Respect the range of differences in abilities and capacities within human beings;
• Develop their own resources for coping;
• Recognise the importance of social connectedness to health and well-being;
• Understand the relationship between wellbeing, identity and learning;
• Understand the importance of environmental health and safety regulations