What is well-being?

 

Although definitions vary – and some feel that it is hard to define – there is broad agreement that well-being refers to the quality of people’s lives. It is about how well we are, and how our lives are going.

 

 

Why does it matter?

 

Measuring well-being is important because all children deserve to be happy with how their lives are going, and we can’t know if they are unless we ask them. Research into children’s well-being makes it possible for to keep track of trends over time and variations in well-being between children, and to offer explanations for these differences.

 

Over the last few years research has been produced using the Good Childhood Index to regularly monitor children and young people's well-being.

 

Research has shown that children with low well-being are more likely to have problems in their lives including their physical and mental health. It’s important for society as a whole that children have the right support around them - at home, at school, in their neighbourhood and beyond to make sure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

 

UNICEF (United Kingdom) compiled The Well-Being of Children report and it highlighted that children within the UK came 16th out of 21 developed countries based on overall child well-being. Please click here to be forwarded to The Well-Being of Children Report. 

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Dealing with worries or anxiety

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Please find attached a guide for parents to support children with worries or anxiety. Please click here.

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