Published on 17 Feb 2025

The Children’s Wellness Inventory - A New Tool for Student Well-being

OER 28/22 MSK - Are our children feeling good and functioning well? Examining student well-being using a multi-dimensional approach

“The Children’s Wellness Inventory (CWI) offers schools a powerful tool to holistically assess and support students' well-being across all areas of their lives, ensuring no child is left behind.”

Mrs Goh Hean Mei, HOD Science, Radin Mas Primary School (Collaborator)

 

Project Team

 

Project Description

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified concerns about student mental health, highlighting the need for robust tools to monitor and enhance children's well-being. This project focuses on examining student well-being through the development and validation of the Children’s Wellness Inventory (CWI). The CWI is designed as a comprehensive, multidimensional tool to assess well-being across three key domains: school, home, and general life. The research addresses a significant gap in child well-being measurement by providing a context-specific, theory-based tool that can inform school initiatives and interventions.

The study employed a mixed-methods approach, including pilot testing and data collection across four primary schools in Singapore. The study also featured in-depth interviews with children, which highlighted key themes in well-being, such as the importance of strong family relationships and positive peer interactions in school. Key findings validated the CWI as an effective instrument for capturing the multidimensional well-being of children. The study revealed the importance of family support and school friendships in shaping children's well-being, offering critical insights for policymakers and educators on how to address well-being holistically. 

This research not only provides a validated tool for well-being assessment but also contributes to the Ministry of Education’s Holistic Health Framework by equipping schools with practical resources to measure and improve student well-being. In addition to academic reports, a Children’s Wellness Inventory Toolkit was developed to guide schools in implementing the tool. The study has significantly contributed to advancing education research and bridging the theory-practice nexus by translating well-being theories into actionable tools for schools.

 

Project Implications

    Findings from the study highlighted the importance of assessing children's well-being across multiple domains, including general, home, and school settings. The Children’s Wellness Inventory (CWI) has proven to be an effective tool in identifying key areas of strength and those needing support. The study highlighted the role of schools and families in fostering positive well-being, with family support and peer relationships emerging as crucial factors.

    Recommendations for Schools:

    1. Utilise the CWI to regularly assess student well-being across general, home, and school contexts, enabling schools to identify at-risk students early and tailor support accordingly.
    2. Develop targeted intervention programs focused on enhancing family engagement and peer relationships, which are key determinants of children's well-being.
    3. Integrate well-being into the school curriculum by incorporating activities and lessons that promote emotional literacy, resilience, and positive peer interactions.
    4. Empower teachers with professional development on student well-being, enabling them to recognize signs of distress and provide timely support to students.

     

    Resources

    Interview with the PI: https://www.ntu.edu.sg/nie/news-events/news/detail/researcher-in-the-spotlight-dr-munirah-shaik-kadir-education-research-scientist-centre-for-research-in-pedagogy-and-practice-office-of-education-research

    SingTeach Article

    Student Well-Being Matters | SingTeach | Education Research for Teachers | Research within Reach (nie.edu.sg)

    Presentation

    • Kadir, M. S., Caleon, I. S., Chua, Y. Z., Zhu, G., & Chan, H. M. (2024) Are our children feeling good and functioning well? Examining student well-being using a multi-dimensional approach. Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference 2024. 

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