Fostering children's wellbeing

Security, self-worth, autonomy, self-competence, and joy.

This comprehensive, self-paced program delves into the Phoenix Cups Framework, offering research-backed strategies to enhance children's emotional, physical, and social wellbeing.

Through engaging video content and downloadable workbooks, you'll explore the five fundamental human needs—Safety, Connection, Freedom, Mastery, and Fun—and learn practical methods to integrate these concepts into your daily interactions and curriculum planning. 

Designed for flexibility, this course allows you to progress at your own pace, making it ideal for busy educators committed to fostering a nurturing and inclusive learning environment. 

Join us to deepen your understanding and effectively support each child's unique journey towards holistic wellbeing.

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Course curriculum

    1. How to use this platform

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Student walk through video

    3. Agreement

    4. About your facilitator - Briana Thorne

      FREE PREVIEW

    5. FAQ

    6. Pre-Questionnaire

    1. Before we begin...

    2. Introducing The Phoenix Cups® Framework

    3. Introducing the Phoenix Cups Framework

    4. The Phoenix Cups Overview

      FREE PREVIEW

    5. Take the Quiz & Draw your profile

    6. The Foundations

    1. What is the Safety Cup?

    2. Download Your Reflection Booklet

    3. Filling the Safety Cup Part 1

    4. The Will To Fill™ Behaviours Poster

    5. Filling the Safety Cup Part 2

    6. Filling the Safety Cup Part 3

    7. Sensory Development Activity Sheet

    8. The Safety Cup Poster

    9. Resource Library

    10. Reflecting on the Safety Cup

    1. Introducing the Connection Cup

    2. Download Your Reflection Booklet

    3. Filling the Connection Cup Part 1

    4. Serve and Returns Example 1

    5. Serve and Returns Example 2

    6. Anchoring As A Tool To Connect Downloadable

    7. The Connection Cup Interaction Ratio Poster

    8. Serve and Returns Poster

    9. Filling the Connection Cup Part 2

    10. Connect Before Correct Poster

    11. Say What You See, Ask A Question Poster

    12. Full Connection Cup Poster

    13. Resource Library

    14. What did you learn about the Connection Cup?

    1. All about the Freedom Cup

    2. Download Your Reflection Booklet

    3. Filling the Freedom Cup Part 1

    4. Filling the Freedom Cup Part 2

    5. Full Freedom Cup Poster

    6. Resource Library

    7. Reflecting on the Freedom Cup

    8. Risk Benefit Analysis Template

    1. The Mastery Cup: Explained

    2. Filling the Mastery Cup Part 1

    3. Filling the Mastery Cup Part 2

    4. Loose Parts In Your Service

    5. Filling the Mastery Cup Part 3

    6. Resource Library

    7. A Reflection on the Mastery Cup

About this course

  • $298.00
  • 6 hours of video content

Research and evidence

This program is based on the following research, theories, and evidence

According to Noddings (2003), Needs are distinguishable from mere desires on the grounds that:

• they are innate;

• they are universal;

• their satisfaction is vital for our wellbeing (distress from non-fulfilment); and

• they lead to behaviour designed to satisfy them.

We are all motivated to choose behaviours to meet our Needs. In this course, we imagine those needs as five Cups, as determined by The Phoenix Cups framework (Phoenix, 2016). Using this analogy, every behaviour we choose is to fill a Cup. When our Cups are full (or filling), we have a strong sense of wellbeing. When they are emptying, we are driven to choose behaviours to fill them.

This program teaches educators how to confidently respond to these behaviours by understanding and responding to what need is attempting to be met, and increasing every child's sense of fulfillment.

Through this program educators will have the opportunity to thoroughly delve into how to foster security, self-worth, autonomy, self-competence and joy. Each workshop is supported by research, theory, and practical strategies to further support children’s holistic development.

This program aligns with Outcome 3, of the VEYLDF, in that children have a strong sense of wellbeing. A key role of each early childhood professional is to build children’s confidence, sense of wellbeing and security, and their motivation to engage actively in learning with others.

Our program has a strong theoretical underpinning using theories and frameworks around basic human needs, theories and principles of the Behaviour Guidance approach, and includes theorists such as Rogers and Maslow, Choice theory, guidance practitioners, and positive psychology.

Dr Louise Porter’s model of human needs, together with the Phoenix Cups framework (developed by Sandi Phoenix), further underpins the information presented throughout the course aimed to increase knowledge of children’s needs, which is paramount in shifting the educator(s) thinking about how we understand and relate to children, and how we interpret their behavioural choices as meeting a need.

Link theory, research, and evidence to your practice and planning

  • Maslow's hierarchy of needs

    In his famous 1943 paper, A Theory of Human Motivation, Maslow said that when a person has met their physiological and safety needs, their behaviour is motivated by the need for belongingness and love. He places the need for Belonging as one of the most important basic human life needs. The Connection Cup considers the middle of Maslow's hierarchy, Belongingness and Love needs.

  • The Phoenix Cups®

    A shared language, an approach, a revolutionary framework. The Phoenix Cups is a philosophical framework that your team can use to share ideas, language, and understandings about human behaviour. This course looks specifically at one of The Phoenix Cups - The Connection Cup.

  • Positive Psychology

    The PERMA model proposes that there are five elements essential to human well-being. The R in this model refers to Relationships. Humans are social animals. We have a need for connection, love, and physical and emotional contact with others. We enhance our own well-being by building strong networks. This course considers this research and the fact that children start filling their Connection Cup with relationships in this way as soon as they’re born.

  • Guidance Approach

    The guidance approached is centred on the idea that children’s behaviours are driven by an attempt to meet a need. Dan Gartrell stresses that an effective learning community is relationship rich, ensuring children’s needs for love, belonging, acceptance, and connection are met.

  • Glasser's Choice Theory

    Dr William Glasser said that we are wired through our genes toward love and belonging. In this course, this is called the Will to Fill the Connection Cup.

  • Schematic Play

    Piaget discovered that working with schemas helps us build learning around children's understanding of their world, effectively scaffolding upon previous learning to expand children's concepts and ideas. Chris Athey and Cathy Nutbrown’s subsequent research and readings around schema are articulated in this course.

Filling the Safety Cup®: Fostering Security

Learn how to support children with emotional needs, separation anxiety, excessive crying or biting, withdrawal, or difficulty settling by increasing their sense of security. 

This chapter explores the Safety Cup® - our drive to meet both physiological and psychological needs like trust, structure, and predictability. 

You'll gain a deeper understanding of how to fill children’s Safety Cups through strategies that address health, wellness, and emotional safety. With practical tools and insights, you’ll confidently plan for holistic wellbeing and ensure children in your care feel secure, fostering a foundation for their growth and development.

The Connection Cup®: Fostering Self-Worth

Support children struggling with low self-esteem, separation anxiety, clinginess, difficulty following directions, or challenges in play and connection by enhancing their sense of self-worth. 

This chapter explores the Connection Cup®, which drives our need for belonging, acceptance, and love. By fostering inclusion, communication, community, and participation, you can help children feel valued and connected. 

Gain deeper knowledge and practical strategies to confidently address these behaviors, promote positive connections, and plan for holistic wellbeing. Ensure every child in your care experiences a strong sense of self-worth and feels supported in their growth and development.

The Mastery Cup®: Fostering Self-Competence

Support children exhibiting strong-willed behavior, perfectionism, a need for control, or low self-esteem by fostering their sense of self-competence. 

This chapter explores the Mastery Cup®, which drives the need for efficacy, visibility, and achievement. By providing challenges, opportunities for growth, and validation, you can help children build confidence and experience success. 

Gain practical strategies and deeper insights to respond effectively to these behaviors, plan for holistic wellbeing, and increase opportunities for mastery. Ensure every child in your care feels capable, empowered, and confident in their abilities, setting a strong foundation for lifelong self-competence.

Filling the Fun Cup®: Fostering Joy

Enhance children’s sense of joy by addressing behaviors like boredom, boundary-testing, teasing, and the need for constant stimulation. This chapter explores the Fun Cup®, which drives the need for play, humor, and celebration. 

By incorporating novelty, stimulation, and opportunities for laughter into your program, you can help children experience joy while learning boundaries. 

Gain practical strategies and deeper insights to confidently respond to these behaviors, foster a playful environment, and plan for holistic wellbeing. Ensure every child in your care feels engaged, joyful, and enriched through a program that celebrates fun and connection.

Filling the Freedom Cup®: Fostering Autonomy

Support spirited, strong-willed children who seek independence, make their own decisions, or resist directions by fostering their sense of autonomy. 

This chapter explores the Freedom Cup®, which reflects the need for independence, self-sufficiency, and free expression. By understanding these needs, you can confidently respond to behaviors like constant activity or absconding and create an environment that supports their agency. 

Gain practical strategies to plan for children’s holistic wellbeing and autonomy, helping them thrive while balancing their freedom with appropriate boundaries. Ensure every child in your care feels empowered and valued in their journey toward independence.

Facilitator

Phoenix Support for Educators

Facilitator Briana Thorne

Briana is a passionate and experienced early years education specialist. Briana has worked across a variety of roles in early years education as an Early Childhood Teacher, Educational Leader, Centre Director, Area Manager, State Manager and General Manager. Briana’s passion for the highest quality education and care led her to work for the Victorian Regulatory Authority supporting and assessing services practices and quality through regulatory and Assessment and Rating procedures. Briana has her Masters in Early Years Education with a specialisation in Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment. Briana’s philosophy places the child at the heart of every decision, connection and action across early years settings. Advocating for children’s agency, embracing children’s voices and child-led educational programming and planning has been a long-held practice. As an experienced leader and mentor, Briana enjoys teaching and supporting educators and leaders to build strong, supported teams of professionals with a shared culture of growth, care and to enable teams to flourish together. With a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Performing Arts, Briana has a dramatic streak and her skills in documentation and the written word support her in providing engaging and high quality training. In her downtime, Briana enjoys filling her giant Connection and Mastery cups by spending quality time with her family, taking on yet another project or challenging herself to learn something new time and again.

What educators are saying about this course:

5 star rating

Fostering wellbeing, security, self worth, autonomy, self...

Mary Tsourekis

Great information - food for thought. The information is current and applicable to all. It is well presented and very informative. It is broken down simply u...

Read More

Great information - food for thought. The information is current and applicable to all. It is well presented and very informative. It is broken down simply under headings making it easy to follow. Great course, all educators should take it.

Read Less
5 star rating

Informative

Georgia Gertos

Quite a good course to get started with and begin to think about changes that can be made to support the children to feel safe and secure.

Quite a good course to get started with and begin to think about changes that can be made to support the children to feel safe and secure.

Read Less

FAQ

  • How do I get my certificates?

    To receive your certificate, you must click on 'Complete & Continue' on every page. Once you've done this your certificate download button should come up in the top left corner of your course, where the progress bar is.