A Holistic Approach to Early Childhood Wellbeing

S.P.A.R.K.L.E. Method™: A Holistic Approach to Early Childhood Wellbeing
-Day Online Course for Educators
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

​Course Overview:
The S.P.A.R.K.L.E. Method™ provides a holistic, heart-led approach to nurturing emotional, social, cognitive, and physical wellbeing in young children. This course is designed to equip educators with practical strategies to embed emotional wellbeing into their daily practices, creating joyful and connected learning environments. The course is structured to be interactive with group discussions, real-life applications, and resources you can immediately implement in your classroom.

What Early Childhood Educators Will Learn;
This immersive, one-day professional development course equips early childhood educators with a holistic framework to nurture emotional, social, cognitive, and physical wellbeing in young children. Grounded in the S.P.A.R.K.L.E. Method™, the course is interactive and reflective, guiding participants through practical strategies that can be implemented immediately to foster emotionally supportive, joyful, and connected learning environments.

​Course Schedule:
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Welcome & Introduction

• Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country
• Introduction to the S.P.A.R.K.L.E. Method™
• Course Goals: Understanding the importance of emotional wellbeing in early childhood education
• Reflection Prompt: “What brought you here today?”

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Session 1 – Emotional Wellbeing in Early Childhood

• Why emotional wellbeing matters in early childhood (linking to EYLF Outcome 3)
• The developmental domains and how emotional wellbeing supports them (Social-Emotional, Cognitive, Physical, and Language Development)
• Overview of the S.P.A.R.K.L.E. Method™ framework
• Activity: Group discussion – “How do we currently support emotional wellbeing in our practices?”

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM: Morning Break

10:45 AM – 12:15 PM: Session 2 – The 7 Pillars of the S.P.A.R.K.L.E. Method™ in Depth

• Deep dive into the 7 Pillars:
  • S — Self-Love & Kindness
  • P — Positive Thinking
  • A — Acts of Kindness
  • R — Rituals in Nature
  • K — Kindred Friendships
  • L — Loving Self-Care
  • E — Express Your Joy
• Aligning each pillar with key developmental domains
• Activity: Interactive poll – “Which pillar do you think is most needed in your setting?”
• Breakout Room Activity: Role-playing and scenario discussions for applying each pillar in practice

12:15 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch Break

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Session 3 – Practical Implementation of the S.P.A.R.K.L.E. Method™

• Embedding each pillar into daily routines
• Creative ways to incorporate the pillars through play, activities, and teaching moments
• Tools for integrating the pillars in a trauma-informed, child-centred approach
• Activity: Designing a “Sparkle Moment” (small change or strategy for your classroom)
• Discussion: How can we stay consistent in our efforts to embed these practices daily?

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Session 4 – Integrating the S.P.A.R.K.L.E. Method™ into Your Educational Framework

• Connecting the S.P.A.R.K.L.E. Method™ to EYLF & NQS (particularly Outcome 3 and QA1, QA5)
• Aligning strategies with your current curriculum and practice
• Linking social-emotional learning with cognitive development in early childhood education
• Activity: Group brainstorm – “How does the S.P.A.R.K.L.E. Method™ fit into your current program?”

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM: Afternoon Break

3:15 PM – 4:00 PM: Session 5 – Engaging Families & Creating Community Connections

• How to involve families in the S.P.A.R.K.L.E. Method™ (resources and strategies for home connections)
• Building a classroom community of kindness and connection
• Activity: Developing a “Sparkle Family Newsletter” or “Bringing Sparkle Home” handout to send home with families
• Discussion: Tips for encouraging family involvement in emotional wellbeing practices

4:00 PM – 4:45 PM: Session 6 – Reflect & Shine: Personal Reflection and Implementation Plans

• Reflecting on the day: “Which pillar do I feel most called to model more intentionally?”
• Activity: Developing an individual action plan (How will you apply what you’ve learned in your classroom tomorrow?)
• Group wrap-up: “One takeaway word or phrase that resonated with you today”

4:45 PM – 5:00 PM: Course Wrap-Up & Closing Remarks

• Final thoughts and questions
• Certification Information: How to receive your course certificate
• Thank you and farewell!

Course Features & Resources:

• Printable Course Workbook: Including the 7 Pillars, developmental domain connections, and key takeaways
• Sparkle Classroom Poster: To remind educators and children of the core pillars
• Family Engagement Handout: Tips on involving families in emotional wellbeing practices