Extensive research has shown that events that cause harm or distress to a child, known as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) negatively impact health and development. More recent research has started looking at the impact of positive childhood experiences (PCEs). PCEs (also known as protective and compensatory experiences or PACEs), can be protective against the negative impacts of ACEs. On the other hand, if someone has multiple ACEs and few PCEs, they are more likely to experience a variety of problems throughout life.

Beyond protecting against the impact of ACEs, PCEs contribute to better physical and mental health over the lifespan. The benefits of PCEs tend to build on each other, in other words, a child with some PCEs is more likely to experience other PCEs, and the more PCEs they experience, the bigger the benefit. When PCEs happen regularly, they contribute to improved brain functioning and better ability to deal with stress. In childhood, PCEs are associated with better mood, behaviour, self-regulation, social skills, relationships, and attitudes towards learning. Adults who experienced PCEs are more likely to have better emotion regulation, relationships, resilience, productivity, responsibility, and educational achievement. PCEs may contribute to less shame, less substance use and stress during pregnancy, and more nurturing parenting attitudes.

PCEs can fit into two categories:

• Supportive, nurturing relationships – with parents/caregivers, peers, teachers, neighbours, mentors, and groups that provide a sense of belonging and social support (e.g., in school and/or community)
• Resources that enhance and improve development, including:
  • environments that are safe, stable, protective, and fair (to live, play, develop, and learn in)
  • opportunities for beneficial social interactions and connections, e.g., involvement in helping others, an organized activity, hobby, or physical activity
  • opportunities for learning social and emotional skills

To provide PCEs parents/caregivers can:

• provide nurturing care
• have more than one person providing regular care
• do fun and interactive family activities
• include opportunities to play with peers (e.g., go to play group)
• do activities that promote thinking (e.g., talking, reading, telling stories, singing)
• have interactions that nurture empathy (e.g., model empathy, talk about other’s feelings)
• provide a safe and child-friendly home, including a safe place to play
• ensure opportunities to learn (e.g., quality early learning)
• include physical activity daily and throughout the day
• have rules and routines to help a child feel safe and know what to expect (e.g., regular bedtime, sufficient sleep, regular healthy meals, eating together, limited screen time)
• avoid punishment or harsh discipline – help understand the difference between right and wrong

Children who have experienced ACEs can find it difficult to self-regulate their own emotions and behaviours. Parents can help by staying calm and regulating their own emotions and responses when interacting with their children. Parents can increase their own self-regulation by not rushing, listening with full attention, and being emotionally aware, compassionate, and nonjudgemental. Children benefit from coregulation, in which they learn about emotional regulation through observation, how they are responded to, and the emotional environment of their family.

Doing a calming activity together, such as deep breathing and movement, can help to calm the mind and body of both adult and child. Here are two fun, calming activities that can be done with a child.

• Balloon breaths – place both hands on your head and as you inhale, raise your arms like blowing up a ballon, and as you exhale, slowly bring your hands back down to your head
• Butterfly breaths – imagine your arms are wings, raise and lower them with your breath

Conclusion: Efforts aimed at improving health and well-being in childhood and across the lifespan should include ensuring children experience as many PCEs as possible. Parents should be encouraged and supported to provide their child with the PCEs described above.