The Wellbeing of Children under Three - Practical early years

In this review of The Wellbeing of Children under Three, the reviewer finds a clear, practice-focused book for early years practitioners and students seeking evidence-linked guidance on supporting the youngest children. The second edition draws explicit connections between research and everyday practice, with new material on practitioner mental health and the Leuven scales, making it a useful resource for settings that want to prioritise wellbeing from birth to age three.

Key Features

• Research to practice links: The book explains how current research applies to daily early years work so practitioners can translate evidence into meaningful routines and interactions.
• Focus on home-setting partnership: Practical guidance on working with parents helps staff build relationships that support a child's holistic wellbeing across home and setting.
• Adult-child interaction emphasis: Clear discussion of how adult attitudes and interactions shape personal, social and emotional development in under threes.
• Coverage of practitioner wellbeing: New material on practitioner mental health recognises staff needs and offers approaches to sustain quality practice.
• Use of Leuven scales: Introduction to the Leuven scales provides a workable approach to observing and measuring young children's wellbeing.
• Chapter structure: Each chapter features clear examples and endings that help practitioners apply ideas directly in settings.

Who It's For

This book is aimed at early years practitioners, nursery managers, student teachers and others working directly with children from birth to three who need practical, research-informed strategies to support personal, social and emotional wellbeing. It suits those wanting to improve partnerships with parents and refine adult-child interactions in daily routines.

It is less suitable for readers seeking a general parenting how-to for older children or a purely academic, theory-heavy treatise; this edition balances research and pragmatic guidance rather than offering extended statistical analysis.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Practical, evidence-linked guidance helps staff put research into everyday practice.
• New content on practitioner mental health acknowledges staff wellbeing as part of quality care.
• The inclusion of the Leuven scales gives a clear, usable tool for observing wellbeing.
• Emphasis on home-setting partnerships supports consistent approaches between parents and settings.

Cons

• Not a substitute for in-depth academic texts; readers wanting exhaustive theoretical detail may find coverage concise.
• Limited information on specific implementation tools or templates means settings must adapt guidance locally.

Specifications

Our Verdict

The Wellbeing of Children under Three is a solid, practice-oriented resource for early years staff and trainees who want concise, research-informed ways to support young children's personal, social and emotional development. Its new focus on practitioner wellbeing and the Leuven scales enhances its practical value, making it good value for settings seeking to improve everyday interactions and partnerships with families.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this edition include new material?
Yes; the second edition adds material on practitioner mental health and introduces the Leuven scales for measuring wellbeing.

Is this book suitable for parents as well as practitioners?
It is written primarily for practitioners and students but parents interested in professional approaches to wellbeing will find useful insights on home-setting partnership.

Does it provide observation tools?
The book discusses the Leuven scales as a measure of wellbeing but does not supply ready-made templates, so settings will need to adapt observations locally.