Wellbeing

Strengths Based Approach

Children have many differences when it comes to their skill sets and interests. However, their strengths can impact how they learn and their capacity to learn.

A strengths-based approach to working with children and families is about ‘how’ we work, not ‘what’ work we do. A strength-based approach is a way of working that focuses on abilities, knowledge, motivations and capacities rather than deficits, or things that are lacking. This approach recognises that all children are resilient and are capable of growth, learning and change.

Current research and evidence, supports the idea that a strengths-based approach encourages educators to: 

• understand that children’s learning is dynamic, complex and individual
• understand that children demonstrate their learning in different ways
• highlight the positives when students are trying something new, trying their hardest or have a positive attitude
• start with what’s present—not what’s absent (“I can see that you have amazing ideas, how could we use these ideas moving forward?”

By identifying and using a child's strengths to empower and uplift them and their potential to learn and grow, teachers and families can change a child's mindset. Rather than looking negatively at their deficits, the strength-based approach allows you to highlight the child's strengths, encourage further improvement, and show them that there's still growth potential. 

Some additional benefits of strength-based teaching include: 

• Building a child's confidence
• Encouraging positive behaviour
• Sustaining long-term learning pursuits
• Supporting greater Social and Emotional Learning
• Fostering individuality, inclusivity, diversity, accessibility, and equity

So, what is a strength?

A strength can be defined in 3 ways – 

• What are you good at?
• Something we get energy from. What do you do where time just disappears?
• Something we are motivated to do without encouragement?

Generally, character strengths are grouped into 24 categories. The attached document lists them.

All of us learn in different ways, and there are certain ways of learning that really speak to us as individuals. For children, it is important to show them that they can learn in a wide variety of ways and that success looks different to everyone. 

As always, I am available via compass if you have any questions or would like to chat with me about anything wellbeing related. You can also email me at louise.jarvis@education.vic.gov.au.

Have a lovely weekend,

Louise Jarvis