Building Identity, Confidence & Emotional Security in the Early Years
(Erikson in Early Childhood Practice)
Professional Development Course for Educators
Monday 21st September 2026
6:00pm - 8:00pm - Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania
6:00pm - 8:00pm - Western Australia
Tuesday 22nd September 2026
6:30pm - 8:30pm - Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania
6:00pm - 8:00pm - South Australia, Northern Territory
INDIVIDUAL - $129
TEAM - $599
Team is for an Individual Early Learning Team
Building Identity, Confidence & Emotional Security in the Early Years
(Erikson in Early Childhood Practice)
Overview
This psychologically informed course explores Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development and translates them into real, every day early childhood practice. Rather than focusing on theory in isolation, educators will learn how children’s sense of identity, confidence, and emotional security is shaped through relationships, experiences, and interactions in early learning environments.
This course helps educators understand what children are working through emotionally and developmentally at different stages, and how everyday responses can either strengthen or undermine their developing sense of self.
Key Learning Focus
Modules:
Module 1: Understanding the Developing Self
Module 2: Trust vs Mistrust & Autonomy vs Shame
Module 3: Initiative, Confidence & Social Development
Module 4: Industry, Competence & Emotional Identity
Monday 21st September 2026
6:00pm - 8:00pm - Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania
6:00pm - 8:00pm - Western Australia
Tuesday 22nd September 2026
6:30pm - 8:30pm - Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania
6:00pm - 8:00pm - South Australia, Northern Territory
INDIVIDUAL - $129
TEAM - $599
Team is for an Individual Early Learning Team
Building Identity, Confidence & Emotional Security in the Early Years
(Erikson in Early Childhood Practice)
Overview
This psychologically informed course explores Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development and translates them into real, every day early childhood practice. Rather than focusing on theory in isolation, educators will learn how children’s sense of identity, confidence, and emotional security is shaped through relationships, experiences, and interactions in early learning environments.
This course helps educators understand what children are working through emotionally and developmentally at different stages, and how everyday responses can either strengthen or undermine their developing sense of self.
Key Learning Focus
- Understanding Erikson’s psychosocial stages in early childhood
- How identity, confidence, and emotional security develop over time
- Linking stages of development to behaviour and emotional expression
- Supporting autonomy, independence, and initiative in practice
- Understanding shame, doubt, guilt, and inferiority in early learning contexts
- Strengthening educator responses through developmental awareness
- Using language and interactions that support healthy identity formation
Modules:
Module 1: Understanding the Developing Self
- Introduction to Erikson’s psychosocial theory
- Why identity development is central to early childhood
- Trust, autonomy, initiative, and industry as core developmental foundations
- How early relationships shape internal beliefs about self
- The educator’s influence on identity formation
Module 2: Trust vs Mistrust & Autonomy vs Shame
- Emotional security and attachment as the foundation of trust
- How consistency and responsiveness build safety
- Supporting autonomy in everyday routines (feeding, dressing, choices)
- Avoiding shame-based interactions in early childhood practice
- Building independence without pressure or control
Module 3: Initiative, Confidence & Social Development
- Supporting curiosity, leadership, and early problem-solving
- How play supports initiative and emotional expression
- Encouraging confidence through supported challenge
- Managing guilt, fear of failure, and inhibition
- Educator language that builds courage and participation
Module 4: Industry, Competence & Emotional Identity
- How children develop a sense of capability and achievement
- Supporting persistence, effort, and learning through challenge
- The link between competence, self-worth, and resilience
- Preventing comparison, inferiority, and disengagement
- Embedding identity-supportive practice into daily routines
