Unconditional positive regard in early childhood: What we can still learn from Carl Rogers and Mister Rogers?

What might early childhood practice look like if relationships truly came first?

In this article and podcast episode, we explore the idea of unconditional positive regard through the work of two influential figures who shared more than a surname: Carl Rogers and Fred Rogers. Although they worked in different spaces, both highlighted the power of acceptance, connection, and respect in supporting children's growth.

Read the article here:

https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/unconditional-positive-regard-in-early-childhood-what-we-can-still-learn-from-carl-rogers-and-mister-rogers/

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Listen to more:

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:

· Growth mindset in early childhood by Matt Bawler: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/growth-mindset-in-early-childhood-2/

· Proactively promoting positive mental health by Matt Bawler: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/proactively-promoting-positive-mental-health/

Get in touch and share your voice:

Do you have thoughts, questions or feedback? Get in touch here! – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/

Episode break down:

00:00 – Introduction and welcome
02:15 – Katie and David share their journeys into counselling and early childhood education
05:20 – Why they wrote together about unconditional positive regard
08:15 – What unconditional positive regard looks like in everyday practice
11:00 – How to balance empathy with clear boundaries using the ACT approach
14:30 – Practical examples of setting limits with children
16:45 – How boundaries can communicate care, safety and love
19:10 – Why connecting Carl Rogers and Fred Rogers matters for the early childhood community
22:30 – The ongoing lack of respect and support for early childhood educators
26:00 – Emotional labour and how educators manage feelings in the classroom
27:15 – Natural emoting, surface acting and deep acting explained
31:30 – When "faking it" protects relationships and when it leads to burnout
34:00 – Why teaching in early childhood is emotionally intense and highly complex
37:00 – Helping children build a richer vocabulary for emotions
41:00 – Why modelling emotions is central to children's social and emotional learning
44:00 – Reflecting on whether children feel genuinely wanted and valued
46:00 – Final reflections and episode close

For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com