Health and well-being (children and young people) Iechyd a llesiant (plant a phobl ifanc)
‘Well-being’ and its importance ‘Llesiant’ a'i bwysigrwydd

The Oxford English Dictionary defines wellbeing as ‘the state of being comfortable, healthy or happy’.

Promoting well-being involves understanding and addressing child, youth, and caregiver functioning in physical, behavioural, social, and cognitive areas. A focus on well-being should be integrated into all aspects of child welfare services.

Well-being for children and young people encompasses the whole person:

For example, an individual’s:

• health, development and safety
• emotional and psychological development
• social development and behaviour
• intellectual development and education.

Well-being is important for children and young people for a number of reasons:

• it is fundamental to their overall physical and mental health
• supports them to overcome difficulties
• gives confidence and a positive self-esteem
• helps support positive relationships with other children, young people and adults
• supports healthy growth and development
• supports positive behaviour.

The Welsh Government recognise the importance of well-being in the Well-being of future Generations (Wales) Act 2015:

‘We are working towards our goal of a more equal Wales, where people can reach their potential no matter what their background or circumstances. We want to improve the well-being of the people of Wales in accordance with the sustainable development principle. This means seeking to ensure that the needs of the present are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We champion the interests of children and aim to provide every child with the best possible start in life’.

This is supported in the 7 Aims for Children and young people in Wales (https://bit.ly/2HQJIFv) and in particular:

3. All children should enjoy the best possible physical and mental, social and emotional health including freedom from abuse, victimisation and exploitation

The Welsh Government Foundation Phase has Personal and Social Development, Well-being and Cultural Diversity as one of its outcomes.

‘Personal and Social Development, Well-being and Cultural Diversity is at the heart of the Foundation Phase and children’s skills are developed across all Areas of Learning through participation in experiential learning activities indoors and outdoors. Children learn about themselves, their relationships with other children and adults both within and beyond the family. They are encouraged to develop their self-esteem, their personal beliefs and moral values. They develop an understanding that others have differing needs, abilities, beliefs and views.’

Diffiniad The Oxford English Dictionary o'r term Saesneg ‘well-being’ yw ‘the state of being comfortable, healthy or happy’.

Mae hybu llesiant yn golygu deall a mynd i'r afael â gweithrediad plant, pobl ifanc a gofalwyr mewn meysydd corfforol, ymddygiadol, cymdeithasol a gwybyddol. Dylid integreiddio ffocws ar lesiant ym mhob agwedd ar wasanaethau lles i blant.

Mae llesiant i blant a phobl ifanc yn cwmpasu'r person cyfan.

Er enghraifft, yr elfennau canlynol i unigolyn:

• iechyd, datblygiad a diogelwch
• datblygiad emosiynol a seicolegol
• datblygiad cymdeithasol ac ymddygiad
• datblygiad deallusol ac addysg.

Mae llesiant yn bwysig i blant a phobl ifanc am nifer o resymau:

• mae'n hanfodol i'w hiechyd corfforol a'u hiechyd meddwl cyffredinol
• mae'n eu helpu i oresgyn anawsterau
• mae'n magu hyder a hunan-barch cadarnhaol
• mae'n helpu i gefnogi cydberthnasau cadarnhaol â phlant, pobl ifanc ac oedolion eraill
• mae'n cefnogi twf a datblygiad iach
• mae'n cefnogi ymddygiad cadarnhaol.

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd llesiant yn Neddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015:

‘Rydym yn gweithio tuag at wneud Cymru’n wlad fwy cyfartal, lle mae pobl yn gallu cyrraedd eu potensial beth bynnag fo’u cefndiroedd neu’u hamgylchiadau. Rydym eisiau gwella lles pobl Cymru yn unol â'r egwyddor datblygu cynaliadwy. Mae hyn yn golygu sicrhau bod yr anghenion presennol yn cael eu diwallu heb amharu ar allu cenedlaethau'r dyfodol i ddiwallu eu hanghenion eu hunain. Rydym yn hyrwyddo buddiannau plant a'n nod yw rhoi'r dechrau gorau posibl iddyn nhw’.

Ategir hyn yn y Saith Nod ar gyfer Plant a Phobl Ifanc yng Nghymru (https://bit.ly/2HQJIFv) ac, yn benodol:

3. Dylai pob plentyn fwynhau'r iechyd corfforol a meddyliol, cymdeithasol ac emosiynol gorau posibl, gan gynnwys rhyddid rhag camdriniaeth, erledigaeth a chamfanteisio.

Un o ganlyniadau Cyfnod Sylfaen Llywodraeth Cymru yw Datblygiad Personol a Chymdeithasol, Llesiant ac Amrywiaeth Diwylliannol.

‘Mae Datblygiad Personol a Chymdeithasol, Lles ac Amrywiaeth Ddiwylliannol wrth wraidd y Cyfnod Sylfaen, a chaiff sgiliau plant eu datblygu ar draws yr holl Feysydd Dysgu wrth iddynt gymryd rhan mewn gweithgareddau dysgu drwy brofiadau, a gynhelir dan do ac yn yr awyr agored. Mae plant yn dysgu amdanynt eu hunain a'u perthynas â phlant eraill ac oedolion o fewn y teulu a'r tu allan iddo. Caiff plant eu hannog i ddatblygu eu hunan-barch, eu credoau personol a'u gwerthoedd moesol. Maent yn datblygu dealltwriaeth o'r ffaith bod gan bobl eraill anghenion, galluoedd, credoau a safbwyntiau gwahanol.’