A Practical Day of Emotional Growth, Resilience, & Joy in Early Childhood
A Practical Day of Emotional Growth, Resilience, & Joy in Early Childhood
One-Day Training Course: Positive Psychology & Emotion Coaching in Early Childhood
A Practical Day of Emotional Growth, Resilience & Joy in Early Childhood Settings
Overview:
Join us for a hands-on, uplifting professional development day designed to empower early childhood educators with practical tools rooted in Positive Psychology and Emotion Coaching. Through creative, play-based activities and meaningful reflection, participants will explore ways to build emotional literacy, resilience, and a culture of wellbeing in early learning environments.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will:
Understand the 5 key themes of Positive Psychology (PERMA) and their link to early childhood development
Use emotion cards and the “Calm Cubby” to build children’s emotional literacy
Implement practical, play-based strategies to foster resilience, empathy, and positive behaviour
Create consistent, nurturing environments that support children’s wellbeing
Empower themselves and families with tools that support positive emotional growth
🕘 Proposed Course Schedule (6 hours + breaks)9:00 AM – 9:30 AM | Welcome + Warm-Up
Icebreaker: Emotion Check-In using sample cards
Set the tone with mindfulness or a positive affirmation
Overview of the day
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM | Session 1: Foundations of Positive Psychology in ECEC
Understanding PERMA
How emotions build wellbeing and learning
Educator self-awareness and co-regulation
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM | Morning Tea ☕
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Session 2: Emotion Cards in Action
Deep dive into each of the 5 themes
Explore 10 emotion cards for each area + matching child-friendly actions
Interactive small group work: “Design a Mini Emotion Toolkit”
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Lunch Break
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Session 3: Creating Safe & Supportive Spaces
The Calm Cubby purpose
How to set it up, introduce it, and keep it child-centred
Sensory tools, visuals, and child-led regulation
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Session 4: Playful Practices for Resilience
Art therapy, play therapy, storytelling & blob trees
Role-play: Coaching moments with emotion language
Practical movement-based emotional regulation activities
3:00 PM – 3:15 PM | Afternoon Break
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM | Session 5: Embedding Positive Psychology Every Day
Goal setting: What will you start doing tomorrow?
Family partnership tips + take-home tools
Reflective journaling + closing affirmation
Emotional Wellbeing & Positive Psychology Resource List
A toolkit to support children's resilience, confidence, and emotional growth – for educators & families
1. Emotion Cards Linked to Positive Psychology
50 cards aligned with the 5 PERMA themes
Each includes Emotion name + visual + child-friendly action step
Printable and digital versions
Used for check-ins, small group discussions, and self-regulation
2. Feeling Wheel for Children
Colour-coded visual tool to help children name and explore emotions
Linked to broader emotional vocabulary (e.g. “angry” → “frustrated”, “annoyed”)
Used during transitions, reflection, or Calm Cubby time
3. Calm Cubby Setup Guide
Renamed to avoid time-out associations
Includes calming tools: soft cushions, sensory items, books, posters
Encourages emotional regulation through self-directed use
“How-To” signage for children and educators
4. Creative Expression Activity Pack
Art therapy & play-based prompts (e.g. “Draw what calm feels like”)
Playdough emotion faces
Puppetry & storytelling for emotional processing
Used during group work or one-on-one support
5. The Feelings Blob Tree
Visual tool with characters expressing different feelings/positions
Encourages non-verbal emotional identification
Ideal for younger children or those with limited verbal language
6. Mindfulness & Breathing Cards
Child-friendly breathing prompts (e.g. Rainbow Breath, Balloon Belly)
Visual instructions for calm-down techniques
Portable — can be used anywhere in the centre
7. Family Information Sheet
Family-friendly overview of:
Positive Psychology in early childhood
The purpose of the Calm Cubby
Emotion coaching at home
How families can support resilience through small rituals
Includes tools like gratitude prompts, affirmations, and emotion check-ins
Printable and digital formats for newsletters or enrolment packs
8. Educator Training Session Plan
Covers Positive Psychology, emotional development, PERMA framework
Includes:
Interactive educator activities
Emotion-based tools to use in classrooms
Strategies for building relationships, resilience, and a culture of wellbeing
Can be delivered live or as a self-paced PD session
9. Classroom Posters & Visual Prompts
Daily affirmation cards
Emotion faces chart
“How Are You Feeling Today?” poster
Growth mindset visuals
Visuals to support transitions and self-regulation
One-Day Training Course: Positive Psychology & Emotion Coaching in Early Childhood
A Practical Day of Emotional Growth, Resilience & Joy in Early Childhood Settings
Overview:
Join us for a hands-on, uplifting professional development day designed to empower early childhood educators with practical tools rooted in Positive Psychology and Emotion Coaching. Through creative, play-based activities and meaningful reflection, participants will explore ways to build emotional literacy, resilience, and a culture of wellbeing in early learning environments.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will:
Understand the 5 key themes of Positive Psychology (PERMA) and their link to early childhood development
Use emotion cards and the “Calm Cubby” to build children’s emotional literacy
Implement practical, play-based strategies to foster resilience, empathy, and positive behaviour
Create consistent, nurturing environments that support children’s wellbeing
Empower themselves and families with tools that support positive emotional growth
🕘 Proposed Course Schedule (6 hours + breaks)9:00 AM – 9:30 AM | Welcome + Warm-Up
Icebreaker: Emotion Check-In using sample cards
Set the tone with mindfulness or a positive affirmation
Overview of the day
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM | Session 1: Foundations of Positive Psychology in ECEC
Understanding PERMA
How emotions build wellbeing and learning
Educator self-awareness and co-regulation
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM | Morning Tea ☕
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Session 2: Emotion Cards in Action
Deep dive into each of the 5 themes
Explore 10 emotion cards for each area + matching child-friendly actions
Interactive small group work: “Design a Mini Emotion Toolkit”
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Lunch Break
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Session 3: Creating Safe & Supportive Spaces
The Calm Cubby purpose
How to set it up, introduce it, and keep it child-centred
Sensory tools, visuals, and child-led regulation
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Session 4: Playful Practices for Resilience
Art therapy, play therapy, storytelling & blob trees
Role-play: Coaching moments with emotion language
Practical movement-based emotional regulation activities
3:00 PM – 3:15 PM | Afternoon Break
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM | Session 5: Embedding Positive Psychology Every Day
Goal setting: What will you start doing tomorrow?
Family partnership tips + take-home tools
Reflective journaling + closing affirmation
Emotional Wellbeing & Positive Psychology Resource List
A toolkit to support children's resilience, confidence, and emotional growth – for educators & families
1. Emotion Cards Linked to Positive Psychology
50 cards aligned with the 5 PERMA themes
Each includes Emotion name + visual + child-friendly action step
Printable and digital versions
Used for check-ins, small group discussions, and self-regulation
2. Feeling Wheel for Children
Colour-coded visual tool to help children name and explore emotions
Linked to broader emotional vocabulary (e.g. “angry” → “frustrated”, “annoyed”)
Used during transitions, reflection, or Calm Cubby time
3. Calm Cubby Setup Guide
Renamed to avoid time-out associations
Includes calming tools: soft cushions, sensory items, books, posters
Encourages emotional regulation through self-directed use
“How-To” signage for children and educators
4. Creative Expression Activity Pack
Art therapy & play-based prompts (e.g. “Draw what calm feels like”)
Playdough emotion faces
Puppetry & storytelling for emotional processing
Used during group work or one-on-one support
5. The Feelings Blob Tree
Visual tool with characters expressing different feelings/positions
Encourages non-verbal emotional identification
Ideal for younger children or those with limited verbal language
6. Mindfulness & Breathing Cards
Child-friendly breathing prompts (e.g. Rainbow Breath, Balloon Belly)
Visual instructions for calm-down techniques
Portable — can be used anywhere in the centre
7. Family Information Sheet
Family-friendly overview of:
Positive Psychology in early childhood
The purpose of the Calm Cubby
Emotion coaching at home
How families can support resilience through small rituals
Includes tools like gratitude prompts, affirmations, and emotion check-ins
Printable and digital formats for newsletters or enrolment packs
8. Educator Training Session Plan
Covers Positive Psychology, emotional development, PERMA framework
Includes:
Interactive educator activities
Emotion-based tools to use in classrooms
Strategies for building relationships, resilience, and a culture of wellbeing
Can be delivered live or as a self-paced PD session
9. Classroom Posters & Visual Prompts
Daily affirmation cards
Emotion faces chart
“How Are You Feeling Today?” poster
Growth mindset visuals
Visuals to support transitions and self-regulation
