PACE stands for Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy. It is a framework developed by clinical psychologist Dr. Dan Hughes over 20 years ago, aimed at developing caregivers' ability to build safe and trusting relationships with children and young people, particularly in cases where they have a history of trauma. PACE principles have been increasingly adopted over the years, and are now regarded as a highly beneficial system of thinking when approaching childcare in a variety of settings.
This page breaks down each component of the PACE framework. Learning to effectively combine these elements in interactions with children or young people is paramount in effectively applying PACE principles in a care environment.
Playfulness
The Playfulness component of PACE Training is about engendering a light-hearted, fun and playful atmosphere when communicating and engaging with the child. Creating a sense of joy in carer-child interactions can help diffuse negative emotions they may be encountering, reduce feelings of defensiveness or withdrawal, and foster a general sense of positivity in day-to-day activities.
Children with a history of trauma may find difficulty in regulating their own emotions, and may be more susceptible to negative feelings of anger, fear and sadness. Helping foster positive feelings generally through playful interaction may provide particular benefits as a result. This approach may not always be appropriate in cases of misbehaviour or discipline, therefore learning to judge when a playful atmosphere is beneficial is an important part of PACE training.
Acceptance
The Acceptance component of PACE Training involves accepting a child's feelings, motives, and perceptions is a crucial part of creating a sense of safety and security with a child. This does not simply mean accepting behaviour in all cases, but rather learning to dispel judgement with regard to a child's intentions, and communicating this in a way which potentially they can understand and appreciate. This may involve verbal and non-verbal communication, and can have profound benefits in developing trusting relationships with children and young people.
Curiosity
The Curiosity component of PACE training refers to a carer's curiosity about the meaning behind a child's behaviour. Through curiosity, a carer is able to convey their desire to understand what drives a child's decisions, which in turn can encourage a child to stay open and engaged in their interactions.
Understanding certain nuances in this approach is important for it to be effective. Reserving judgement in curiosity, removing anticipation or need of a response, and using the right tone in communicating curiosity are examples of the small details that should be considered in this context.
Empathy
The Empathy component of PACE training involves understanding and sharing the feelings and perspective of a child. By a carer actively showing a child that their feelings are important to them, they demonstrate a commitment to supporting and sharing potentially difficult experiences or hard times.
Through this process, strong and trusting carer-child connections can develop. This pillar may be especially important if the child or young person has experienced abandonment in the past; by communicating commitment and solidarity, a carer is conveying that the child or young person does not need to deal with periods of distress alone.
