Early childhood education supporting child's well-being (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Content scheduling

Webinars and face to face teaching in February-April 2026. Assignments to be completed during March - April 2026.

Objective

The aim of the course is to increase your socio-educational competence in promoting the holistic well-being of children. The course will equip you with the skills to support children's interaction and social skills, as well as emotional and safety skills education.

Competences:

Ethical competences in the social field
Competence in social client work
Social service system competences

Learning outcome:

You will be able to promote the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the best interests of the child, strengthening children's inclusion, equality, equity and safety, and a socially sustainable way of life. You will be able to act in accordance with professional ethical principles in social work and early childhood education and recognise your professional ethical responsibilities. 

You are able to support children's inclusion and peer relationships in the context of their growth, development and learning. You are able to identify and assess risk factors for child and family well-being and to strengthen child well-being in early childhood education and care.  

You will be familiar with the support services of well-being for children and families in early childhood education and care, and the key contents of the documents and legislation governing the service system.    

Content

The main focus of the course is on early childhood education and social pedagogical approaches that support children's well-being and safe inclusion. In addition, social and friendship skills, emotional and safety skills, prevention of bullying and loneliness, raising concerns, media education and its protective aspect, and laws and documents governing early childhood education. 

Location and time

February-April 2026, more detailed schedule on Moodle.

Materials

Elomaa, Katariina, Haapsalo, Tiina, Kirkkopelto, Katri. 2024. Villi juttu : pienten lasten kaveritaitojen vahvistaminen ja kiusaamisen ehkäisy digitaalisessa maailmassa
Laaksonen, Vilja. 2022. Kaveritaidot varhaiskasvatuksessa.
Lajunen, K., Andell, M., Ylenius-Lehtonen, M & Ojanen, S. 2019. Tunne- ja turvataitoja lapsille – Tunne- ja turvataitokasvatuksen oppimateriaali
Materiaali Moodle verkkoympäristössä
Valloittava varhaiskasvatus. 2022. (Toim) Koivula, Merja, Siippainen, Anna, ja Eerola-Pennanen, Paula. Partly

Teaching methods

Face-to-face and online learning
Individual assignments
Group assignments

The use of artificial intelligence is permitted in this course to support studies and assignments, but it must be disclosed in connection with the assignments and in accordance with the guidelines of JAMK and Arene.

Exam schedules

The deadline dates for learning assignments can be found on Moodle in May 2026.
The deadline dates are in March-April.

Completion alternatives

The course can be credited based on previous higher education studies in early childhood education (at least 5 studypoints).
Partial credit for the course can be obtained through other previously completed studies and applicable work experience that are relevant to the course content (must be agreed with teachers and competence must be demonstrated).
Work experience cannot be used to obtain credit for the course

Student workload

5 credits = 135 hours, of which
face-to-face or webinar teaching 20 hours
Independent online learning 30 hours
Group assignments 35 hours
Individual assignments and work 50 hours

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

1= You can describe factors related to a child's well-being, learning and safety. You can explain the principles of supporting children's interaction and social skills and emotional and safety education. You can describe activities in the best interests of the child in accordance with professional ethical principles. Be able to explain risk factors for the well-being of children and their immediate community. Identify services for children and families in early childhood education and care, and the main contents of documents and legislation governing the service system.   

2= You can identify factors related to child well-being, learning and safety. You can give examples of the principles of supporting children's interaction and social skills, as well as emotional and safety education. You can describe activities in the best interests of the child in accordance with professional ethical principles. be able to identify and explain risk factors for the well-being of children and their communities be able to classify the services provided to children and families in the context of early childhood education and care, and the main contents of the documents and legislation governing the service system 

Assessment criteria, good (3)

3= You will be able to identify and apply examples of principles that support the development of children's interaction and social skills, as well as emotional and safety education. You can explain how to act in the best interests of the child in accordance with professional ethical principles. You can identify and explain from different perspectives risk factors for the well-being of children and their communities. be able to classify the services provided to children and families in the context of early childhood education and care and the main contents of the documents and legislation governing the service system 

4= Be able to present and analyze factors related to child well-being, learning and safety. You will be able to identify and apply examples of principles to support children's interactive and social skills and emotional and safety education. You will be able to explain how to act in the best interests of the child in accordance with professional ethical principles. Be able to explain and assess from different perspectives risk factors for the well-being of children and their communities. be able to classify the services provided to children and families in the context of early childhood education and care, and the main contents of the documents and legislation governing the service system 

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

5= You can analyze and assess a wide range of factors related to a child's well-being, learning and safety. You will be able to develop and apply concrete examples of principles to support children's interaction and social skills and emotional and safety education. You will be able to justify actions in the best interests of the child in accordance with professional ethical principles. You will be able to identify and critically analyze risk factors for the well-being of children and their communities from different perspectives. be able to classify services for children and families in the field of early childhood education and critically analyze the main contents of documents and legislation governing the service system