Wings to Fly 2.0
| CfC FP Objective | Early learning and care |
|---|---|
| Delivered to | Children aged 0–5 years and their families |
| Delivered by | Early childhood professionals – including, for example, early childhood educators |
| Delivery setting | Community-based |
| Program developer | Pathways to Resilience |
About the program
Wings to Fly equips early childhood educators with strategies to help children:
- understand brain development and how it impacts social and emotional wellbeing
- recognise their strengths
- self-regulate, co-regulate and eco-regulate
- develop positive social and emotional wellbeing
- build successful relationships with others.
Program structure
The program consists of 10 modules that are designed to enhance children’s learning and skills development:
- Foundations – An introduction to brain development, Brain-Body-Mind
- Sense of identity – Who I am, children’s voice
- Connectedness and building a sense of belonging, being brave
- Feeling calm, breathing, body clues, sensory awareness, mindful movements
- Self-awareness – My feelings, being brave
- Social awareness of others' emotions, empathy
- Learned optimism – Attention & Thinking
- Reaching goals one step at a time and problem-solving
- Friendships in early years – Belonging and connectedness
- People to support children on the journey
- Next steps – Wings to Fly into everyday practice.
Evaluation and effectiveness
A quasi-experimental evaluation of the program was conducted in 2024. The evaluation examined the outcomes of 44 children in intervention groups and 47 children in control groups through data collected over a 6-month period.
The results showed that, compared to the control group, children exposed to the intervention made greater improvements in self-regulation, executive functioning and wellbeing. Educators who received the intervention also reported a range of positive outcomes. This included improved understanding of children’s brain development, enhanced capacity to select pedagogical approaches and provide individualised support to children, and improved confidence to provide clear behavioural expectations and manage classrooms.
Reference
Cartmel, J, (2025). Professional development that makes a difference: Wings to Fly 2.0. Brisbane: Griffith University.
As of July 2025, the program is listed in the Victorian Government School Readiness Funding Menu of evidence-informed programs: Wings to Fly.
Contact
Email: [email protected]
Website: Pathways to Resilience
Principal consultant: Dr Geraldine Harris