Chapter 2: Supporting children to be healthy and well

This chapter will consider a holistic and context-sensitive approach to wellbeing which iden-tifies the role of children’s social worlds in supporting health and wellbeing. It will critically explore contemporary issues facing children and families in terms of being well, such as the impact of social policy and rising concerns about children’s mental health. This chapter ex-amines health and wellbeing across the life-course but with specific emphasis on prenatal and postnatal phases and early and mid-childhood. It will consider a range of definitions and understandings of health and wellbeing, exploring how these are impacted by cultural and social determinants. It will explore how practitioners and families can best support children’s health and wellbeing.