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all_early_childhoodTheir emotional wellbeing is nurtured

uses familiar strategies to manage frustration or uncertainty

Cultural concept — preserved verbatim

Observe whether the child: uses familiar strategies to manage frustration or uncertainty.

What it looks like

Three ways this behaviour shows up as a child grows. Each level includes everyday moments to watch for.

Emerging

Just starting

After a prompt, the child links a feeling, preference, or need with one related action. The action may stop when the adult steps back.

What you might see

  • The child holds a comfort object after a noisy moment and stays nearby while settling.
  • The child points to a wanted object rather than grabbing after an adult pauses the play.
  • The child moves close to a trusted adult and nods when the adult names the feeling.

Expected

On track

The child makes a relevant choice and then checks its effect through looking, listening, trying again, or involving another person.

What you might see

  • The child tells a peer “I’m still using it” and waits beside the adult for support.
  • The child asks for a cuddle, drink, or space and then returns to the activity.
  • The child brings the stuck item to an adult before yelling.

Exceeding

Going further

The child anticipates what may be needed, adapts the plan, and helps another person understand the purpose. Initiative is visible, not just compliance.

What you might see

  • The child notices frustration early, takes space, and comes back with a calmer voice.
  • The child comforts another child, then checks with an adult before touching or moving them.
  • The child explains what caused the upset and asks for a timer so both children can have a turn.

Try this at home

Small everyday moments where you can notice this behaviour without setting up anything special.

  • Prepare waiting, comfort, conflict, or settling with two options: quiet cushion and timer. Notice selection, testing, refusal, repair, or return.

  • Use a photo afterward and ask what happened; listen for sequence, cause, feeling, place, person, or symbol links.

Where this comes from

The dataset source and any supporting developmental research.

  • Ministry of Education. (2017). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum.

    The bicultural early childhood curriculum of Aotearoa New Zealand. Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga (NZ Ministry of Education), 2017 revision.