belonging

About

To belong is to feel included. It is to feel welcome and connected to what is going on around you. Belonging, being and becoming are all critically important in early childhood. Belonging however is crucial because of the role it plays in enabling being and becoming to occur. Belonging helps to give children the security and confidence to explore their world. By building a sense of belonging we also build identity, wellbeing and the ability to learn. Belonging is the basis for living a fulfilling life. Children feel they belong because of the relationships they have with their family, community, culture and place. Belonging is central to being and becoming in that it shapes who children are and who they can become. Experiencing belonging – “knowing where and with whom you belong is integral to human existence.” When children have positive experiences they develop an understanding of themselves as significant and respected and feel a sense of belonging. Relationships are the foundations for the construction of identity. “Who am I”, “how I belong” and “what is my influence”. Early Years Learning Framework ‘Resilience and emotional intelligence depend largely on a sense of connectedness, belonging and empathy with others. Belonging implies being part of group which in turn requires the development of moral actions such as honesty, altruism and caring .’ – Andrew Fuller Contemporary view of learning has changed from a ‘filling an empty vessel’ approach to an approach which views understandings as being socially constructed, with relationships, partnerships and participation central to learning. It is more about ‘sparking a flame’ than filling the vessel. Because belonging is about being part of a group, relationships are critical. When we develop meaningful relationships with children and their communities we help to create a sense of belonging. Making sure that we treat everyone as an individual, worthy of our time and our respect is a good start. Openly welcoming and