Self-Esteem and Early Learning: Key People from Birth to School

Part 1: Babies First

• Chapter 1: Children Learning to Be Lovable
• Introducing Joe
• Mothers and other Important People
• Early Brain Development
• Earliest Learning
• Unconditional Acceptance
• Joe's Jokes
• Development of Self-Concept
• Body Language
• Introducing Lily
• Behaving in Character
• Self-Concept in Relation to Behaviour
• Chapter 2: Being a Key Person
• Dad's Home
• Holding
• Knowledge and Acceptance
• Power of Important Adults
• Mum and Joe
• Adult Motivation
• Unconscious Messages
• Lily's Superman
• Imaginative Play
• Postscript Questions and Recommended Reading

Part 2: Fundamental Feelings

• Chapter 3: Children's Normal Bad Feelings
• Cats and Dustpans
• Normal Mixed Feelings
• Reasons for ‘Bad’ Feelings
• Crying
• Brothers and Sisters
• Mixed-Up Lily
• Acknowledging ‘Bad’ Feelings
• The Cycle of Loss
• Mum's Magic
• Containment
• Chapter 4: Adults Accepting Bad Feelings
• The Biscuit Battle
• Uses and Abuses of Distraction
• Dealing with Our Own Feelings
• Lily in Control
• Siblings
• Listening to Lily
• Verbal Protest
• Changes for Children
• One Problem at Time
• Fathers
• Easing Distress
• Postscript Questions and Recommended Reading

Part 3: About other People

• Chapter 5: Children Living with other People
• Lily Needs her Dolls
• Other People's Point of View
• Joe's Tight Place
• Children's Tolerance
• Why Say ‘No’ to Smacking?
• Shopping with Dad
• Using Mistakes
• Genuine Praise
• Chapter 6: Adults Setting Limits
• Joe's Changed!
• Two Points of View
• Reflective Talking about Problems
• Being Role Models
• Eating Custard Creams
• The Need for Limits
• Developing Self-Discipline
• Establishing Our Priorities
• Being Consistent
• Temper Tantrums
• Television, Videos and DVDs
• Dan Stays the Night
• Encouraging Independence
• Recognising Real Achievements
• Postscript Questions and Recommended Reading

Part 4: Linking with Learning

• Chapter 7: Children's Ways of Learning
• Going to Nursery School
• Children Learning
• Manageable Experiences
• A Safe Environment
• Pipes and Gutters
• Exploratory Learning
• Being Good
• Adult Expectations
• Chapter 8: Adults Supporting Learning
• Too Much for Terry
• Levels of Challenge
• Partnership between Parents and Staff
• Observing Children
• Behind the Stereotypes
• Joe at Nursery
• Encouraging Exploratory Learning
• Setting Examples for Children
• Pretend Painting
• Factors Inhibiting Learning
• Postscript Questions and Recommended Reading

Part 5: Real Self-Esteem

• Chapter 9: Children's Successful Learning
• Lily and Joe's Picnic
• Learning and Play
• Supporting Children's Efforts
• Helping Children to Help Themselves
• Moving House
• Children's Patterns of Learning (Schemas)
• Building a Den
• About Expectations
• Components of Self-Esteem
• Competition
• Self-Esteem and Genuine Praise
• Chapter 10: Adults Aiming High
• At the Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea
• Ways of Helping Children's Learning
• Friday Nights at Home
• Using Schemas
• Children Planning and Reflecting
• Eating Together
• Fun and Fireworks
• Self-Esteem in Early Childhood Education and Care Settings
• Working Together
• Freedom and Responsibility
• Postscript Questions and Recommended Reading

Part 6: New Journeys

• Chapter 11: Children Managing Transitions
• Lisa Comes to Stay
• Transitions
• ‘Properly’ Being Four
• A Holistic View of Children
• Attributes That Help Children Manage Transitions
• Children's Need for Continuity and Consistency
• Children's Need for Time and Support
• Going to Big School
• The Treasure Hunt
• Children's Companions
• Learning Together
• The Magic of Books
• Visiting Dan
• Learning Dispositions
• Chapter 12: Supporting Children's Journeys
• Lily Starts School
• Making the Most of Childhood
• A Holistic View of Services
• Children in Transition Need Strong Attachments
• Long-Term Fundamental Feelings
• Saying ‘Yes’ and Saying ‘No’
• Mum Does it Right!
• How can Parents Help?
• The ‘Key Person’ System
• Settings and Schools Helping ‘New’ Children
• Home-School Relationships
• Lisa's Lecture
• Learning Dispositions of Parents and Carers
• Families Matter
• A Vision for the Twenty-First Century
• Epilogue
• Postscript Questions and Recommended Reading