The Positive Influence of Caregiver Well-being on Child Well-being: What’s Play Got to Do With it?

Group Submission Type: Formal Panel Session

Proposal

Caregiver, including parents and teacher, well-being is a significant predictor of child well-being, development and learning outcomes (The Lancet, 2016; Nurturing Care Framework, 2018; Moving Minds Alliance; and The MHPSS Collaborative, 2023). The world is also facing increased rates of poverty, as well as more enduring and frequent crises and disruptions, due to conflict, climate related events and the ongoing impact of COVID. These unprecedented stressors can compromise caregivers’ well-being and their ability to provide the nurturing care children require on a day-to-day basis (National Institute of Health, 2022). However, caregiver well-being is rarely prioritized in caregiver and teacher interventions, parental or school engagement efforts or in humanitarian response planning (The MHPSS Collaborative, 2022). This panel intends to raise the profile of this neglected area of work which exists in the intersection of the care economy (paid and unpaid), gender equality, child development, learning outcomes and health, including psychosocial well-being. In line with the conference theme, the discussant will seek to draw out and amplify the importance of caregiver well-being and self-care and highlight innovative ways that practitioners, professionals and parents alike can integrate these examples into their daily practice. By empowering the attendees with knowledge and tools, we can mobilize demand and elevate the importance of caregiving, which is a critical and often undervalued public good. By collaborating with experts at the conference, we hope to refine and expand our approach to caring for the caregiver and foster transformative change in education globally.

When consulted, caregivers (e.g., parents and teachers) express the desire for practical strategies that lift the burden of caregiving, support their well-being and promote a stronger, more positive bond with children in their care (e.g., their children, students). The first panel presentation will explore research in this area and establish the need for more attention to caregiver well-being to achieve impact for children. Play-based approaches have the potential to support both caregiver and child well-being, and promote responsive, emotionally supportive and developmentally stimulating caregiver-child interactions. The next three panel presentations share research on practical, innovative strategies for supporting caregivers to meet their needs through play. All three share learnings around designing and implementing play-based approaches that prioritize caregivers and their needs. Panellists will also lead participants in a practical demonstration of a play-based activity that supports improved social bonding through positive discipline, designed to reduce the load on caregivers. By supporting parents and teachers alike, we can create a wrap-around system of care that also directly benefits children through positive relationships with multiple trusted adults in their lives.

These findings and discussion highlight opportunities for global actors to deepen and apply their understanding of promoting caregiver well-being through play across research, policy and practice. Our hope is attendees will leave the session better able to integrate evidence-based, play-based caregiver interventions in their project to support children’s well-being, development and learning. Similarly, the panellists will seek insights from like-minded educators and researchers facing similar challenges. The conference provides an ideal platform for cross-collaboration, enabling the refinement of the self-care approach to benefit parents, teachers and children (e.g., students) in diverse educational and community contexts.

Sub Unit

• Education in Conflict and Emergencies SIG

Chair

• Joyce M Malombe, Collective Rising Leadership Institute

Individual Presentations

• The Need to Get Caregiver Involvement Right: A Closer Look at Caregiver Well-being When Designing Educational Programming in Protracted Crisis - Eva Sophia Smallegange, War Child Holland

• The Benefits of Co-Viewing on Child & Caregiver Well-Being - Nicole Whaites, Big Bad Boo