- Deals with what it means to be human through the recognition of the importance of empathetic behaviour - it offers way to cultivate empathy in early childhood through building community connections. - Builds on a solid body of research work in empathy, resilience and relational skills building for the 21st century. - Focuses on children as empathetic agents for local and global community change - the why, the how and the what. - Addresses the role of adults in empowering children to engage in focused lived experiences that seek to advance empathetic community connections. - Presents practical strategies, tools and implications for adults working with children and parents.

- Deals with what it means to be human through the recognition of the importance of empathetic behaviour - it offers way to cultivate empathy in early childhood through building community connections. - Builds on a solid body of research work in empathy, resilience and relational skills building for the 21st century. - Focuses on children as empathetic agents for local and global community change - the why, the how and the what. - Addresses the role of adults in empowering children to engage in focused lived experiences that seek to advance empathetic community connections. - Presents practical strategies, tools and implications for adults working with children and parents.

Young Children's Social Emotional Learning: The COPE-Resilience Program is a manual that is designed to support early childhood educators in the delivery of the COPE Resilience (COPE-R) program, an evidence-based program designed to teach empathy, resilience and prosocial skills to children. Grounded in extensive research and experience in psychology and early childhood, the program is built on a series of activities that help children develop their capacity for emotional understanding, caring for others, open communication, polite and respectful behaviours, and empathic sharing. The manual includes: Theoretical concepts underpinning COPE-R such as self-regulation, emotional intelligence, positive psychology, coping, resilience, and wellbeing in early childhood education. A "How-To" section to guide readers in the implementation of COPE-R. Over 40 activities templates (including examples of teacher's adaptations) with easy to navigate icon legends. Facilitator notes and considerations for working with younger children and children of diverse backgrounds. Teaching tips for each of the topic areas and a feature piece on the insights from an early childhood teacher who is experienced in implementing COPE-R. Supplementary materials, including a set of situation and coping images. Each activity includes directions for children as well as guidelines for educators, and is designed to be used flexibly in various early learning contexts, enabling educators to select activities that best suit their setting.

Promoting Well-Being in the Pre-School Years provides evidence-based research and real-life strategies that support social and emotional development and well-being for children aged 3-5 years. It places emphasis on nurturing social emotional competence through purposeful scaffolding activities and how these can be used by children and families to create a harmonious platform for building resilience and positive relationships with family and the community. Drawing on principles from Positive Psychology and Positive Education, it is illustrated throughout with examples of sustainable practice in diverse, global settings. Key topics explored include: Contemporary well-being concepts, including 'grit', 'growth mindset' and 'gratitude', as well as 'classic' constructs such as coping and self-efficacy The attitudes and skills that need to be developed to ensure that young children flourish Cognitive and sociocultural perspectives complemented by neuroscience and epigenetics Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in the early years curriculum Using visual tools - the Early Years Coping Cards How we measure young children's coping The relationship between coping, stress and mental health Recognition of the importance of parents' own coping skills How partnerships with communities can improve children's SEL. Promoting Well-Being in the Pre-School Years shows how we can support young children to develop an understanding of what it means to be happy and to flourish as a socially responsible member of the family and wider community. It is essential reading for teachers, parents and professionals who work with young children, as well as academics in child development.

Young Children's Social Emotional Learning: The COPE-Resilience Program is a manual that is designed to support early childhood educators in the delivery of the COPE Resilience (COPE-R) program, an evidence-based program designed to teach empathy, resilience and prosocial skills to children. Grounded in extensive research and experience in psychology and early childhood, the program is built on a series of activities that help children develop their capacity for emotional understanding, caring for others, open communication, polite and respectful behaviours, and empathic sharing. The manual includes: Theoretical concepts underpinning COPE-R such as self-regulation, emotional intelligence, positive psychology, coping, resilience, and wellbeing in early childhood education. A "How-To" section to guide readers in the implementation of COPE-R. Over 40 activities templates (including examples of teacher's adaptations) with easy to navigate icon legends. Facilitator notes and considerations for working with younger children and children of diverse backgrounds. Teaching tips for each of the topic areas and a feature piece on the insights from an early childhood teacher who is experienced in implementing COPE-R. Supplementary materials, including a set of situation and coping images. Each activity includes directions for children as well as guidelines for educators, and is designed to be used flexibly in various early learning contexts, enabling educators to select activities that best suit their setting.

Promoting Well-Being in the Pre-School Years provides evidence-based research and real-life strategies that support social and emotional development and well-being for children aged 3-5 years. It places emphasis on nurturing social emotional competence through purposeful scaffolding activities and how these can be used by children and families to create a harmonious platform for building resilience and positive relationships with family and the community. Drawing on principles from Positive Psychology and Positive Education, it is illustrated throughout with examples of sustainable practice in diverse, global settings. Key topics explored include: Contemporary well-being concepts, including 'grit', 'growth mindset' and 'gratitude', as well as 'classic' constructs such as coping and self-efficacy The attitudes and skills that need to be developed to ensure that young children flourish Cognitive and sociocultural perspectives complemented by neuroscience and epigenetics Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in the early years curriculum Using visual tools - the Early Years Coping Cards How we measure young children's coping The relationship between coping, stress and mental health Recognition of the importance of parents' own coping skills How partnerships with communities can improve children's SEL. Promoting Well-Being in the Pre-School Years shows how we can support young children to develop an understanding of what it means to be happy and to flourish as a socially responsible member of the family and wider community. It is essential reading for teachers, parents and professionals who work with young children, as well as academics in child development.

These are the kinds of stories we need right now. While the news is filled with villains and villainy, we do see a few famous heroes now again. But what about the everyday heroes? The people going out of their way bring a little love into someone else's life? They deserve a time in the spotlight to inspire us all. Life can be tough--but it helps to know other people have come through hard times with a smile on their face. In Make Your Own Sunshine, Janice Dean shares inspiring stories that will lift your spirit and touch your heart. Good people are all around us doing selfless deeds, from a firefighter who bravely battled for his colleague's health after 9/11 to a good Samaritan who secretly pays for the coffees of everyone in line behind him. You can't help but smile reading about the teacher who cut her hair to make her student feel better. And you may shed a tear when you hear the story of the dad who never missed writing a napkin note for his daughter, including stashing extra notes in case he lost his batter with cancer. From a young man who makes bow ties for dogs waiting to be adopted to an Uber driver who brightened a new mom's day by helping her buy baby clothes, the heroes in this story will warm your heart and stick in your mind. Janice has made it her mission to uncover and document these good stories to inspire us and gives us a much-needed boost of optimism. All we have to do is open our minds and our hearts, to look for the light on a cloudy day. Because as she reminds us, if we don't make our own sunshine--who will?

Children know that being lost can be scary, and what better way to calm their fears and give them inspiration than with a gorgeous new picture book? Friendly little snake Flemming never expects to become lost when he leaves his native Georgia. But soon, the land looks less and less familiar and before he knows it, he winds up in the strange new world of Canada, in The Adventures of Flemming by Janice Dean, Susan Henson, Pam Mashburn and Kimberly Sheppard. Flemming needs help, but to his surprise everyone seems to be afraid of him and runs from his questions, and he can't understand why. As he slithers hither and thither, he encounters exotic new animals he's never seen before. He also meets a friendly young human girl named Kimberly, who takes pity on the little snake. Kimberly teaches him the importance of friendship, and introduces him to a surprising new friend-the one friend each and every one of us really needs