Student Wellbeing 

Chaplain’s Chat “The Significant Other”     

I had the opportunity to attend our Chaplaincy Conference last week entitled, “The Significant Other.” I am brimming with the ideas, new research and the practical strategies we were presented with from a number of eminent practitioners in their field of work to enhance child development. What continues to amaze me is the constant research in the field of brain development and related behaviors, understanding is expanding rapidly and yet there still seems so much more to comprehend. 

One workshop I attended focused on the awareness of agency over vulnerability in assisting in healthy development.  When a child is viewed as vulnerable they are protected whereas if they are viewed as having agency they are seen as being a participant. A child who has agency is able to make statements like;

• I am... (understanding), 
• I have...(experience) 
• I can...(capacity). 

Well being is multi-dimensional and encompasses –: being, having & doing.Being is feeling; trusted, free and safe, having is when needs are met, the child has a voice, and has realistic responsibility, while doing is about choice.  

This healthy well being is grounded in relationship to self, to significant others and to school.   Through these relationships our child’s needs and desires to be known, to be noticed and to be valued can be met. Social isolation is one of the biggest predictors of poor outcomes whereas social inclusivity is a very positive predictor of good outcomes.  

So the good news is that these are all processes that we can achieve, they don’t require the expenditure of vast sums of money or highly skilled and trained professionals they merely require our time, connectedness, eye contact, listening, energy, belief in their value and positive relationships.

 Don’t forget “It takes a village to raise a child.”  

 Gill Van Der Ende Chaplain