6
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Hamilton
Children
Families
Educators
Belonging
refers to a sense of connectedness to others, an individual’s experience of being valued, forming
a variety of relationships, and making contributions as a part of a group, a community, and the natural world.
Well-Being
addresses the importance of physical and mental health and wellness. It incorporates
capacities such as self-care, sense of self, and self-regulation skills.
Engagement
suggests a state of being involved and focused. When children are able to explore the
world around them with their natural curiosity and exuberance, they are fully engaged. Through this type of play
and inquiry, they develop skills such as problem solving, creative thinking, and innovating, which are essential for
learning and success in school and beyond.
Expression
or communication (to be heard, as well as to listen) may take many different forms. Through
their bodies, words and use of materials, children develop capacities for increasingly complex communication.
Opportunities to explore materials support creativity, problem solving, and mathematical behaviours. Language-
rich environments support growing communication skills, which are foundational for literacy.
HOW DOES LEARNING HAPPEN?
