By Yixuan Zhu, Fanshawe College, Early Childhood Leadership. Yixuan wrote this during her Parents2Partners internship, where she worked to help children and families from every cultural background feel a sense of belonging.
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Children grow best when their verbal, emotional, and physical development are all supported. These everyday experiences make a real difference.
Verbal wellbeing
- Family dinner conversations. Share stories and daily experiences, and invite everyone to take part.
- Book clubs or reading challenges. Talking about books with friends builds vocabulary and a love of reading.
- Speaking opportunities. School presentations or local debates build confidence and clear expression.
Emotional wellbeing
- A daily check in. Try “rose, bud, and thorn”: something good, something to look forward to, and something hard.
- Partnership with teachers. Regular communication between parents and teachers helps spot and address emotional needs early.
- Community service. Helping others builds empathy, compassion, and belonging.
Physical wellbeing
- Family outdoor time. Hiking, biking, or camping builds fitness and a love of nature.
- Cooking together. Planning and preparing meals teaches healthy eating and lets children try new foods.
- Team sports and group activities. They build fitness, motor skills, teamwork, discipline, and resilience.
Woven into family life, these experiences nurture the whole child and set them on a path toward a happy, healthy future.