6 Tips for Supporting your Child’s Mental Health

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Did you know that nearly 20% of children and young people ages 3-17 in the United States have a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder? (National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report, 2022) Childhood and adolescence are both critical times for overall physical, mental, behavioral, and emotional development. This is why it is paramount that we have resources and tools to support kids’ mental health. Below are tips for supporting your child’s mental health.

Practice Self-Care

This is at the top of the list because it’s a priority before anything else. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “You can’t pour from an empty cup” or the classic airplane example: “Put your oxygen mask on first.” Both of these examples mean that as adults, we cannot help others until we’ve helped ourselves. That’s why practicing self-care is critical. It’s not a luxury. It’s a necessity. When we feel better, we do better. If you don’t already have a self-care routine in place, try something and see what works for you. From a very basic needs level, make sure you are eating well and sleeping well. Try yoga, meditation, mindful movement, or whatever feeds your soul. Not only will you be able to show up for yourself in everyday life, but you’ll be able to serve your children/students better. Mirror neurons are real- what kids see they tend to mimic. When kids see that the adults in their lives are healthy, they are more likely to copy that behavior. Remember, a dsyregulated (the inability of a person to control or regulate their emotional responses to provocative stimuli) adult cannot calm a dysregulated child. A calm body is a calm mind.

Discuss How to Identify Emotions

The more we discuss emotions and expose children to books that teach about emotions, the more emotionally intelligent children will become. We can do this by simply looking at pictures of characters in books and talking to kids about the characters’ feelings. Teaching about facial expressions and body language can build a foundation for kids to understand how to identify emotions within themselves and others. Playing emotions charades is a simple and engaging way for kids to practice learning about emotions.

Model Healthy Coping Skills

Just as stated above, kids often impersonate what is modeled before them. If adults use healthy coping skills, kids are likely to use them. For example, if a stressed adult goes for a walk, listens to music, colors, the kids in their life will be exposed to healthy modes of self-regulation, and ultimately mimic these behaviors. To the contrary, if an adult under stress decides to shout loudly and become physically aggressive, then kids will think that is acceptable and copy these behaviors.

Regular Encouragement and Positive Reinforcement

Everyone enjoys receiving positive feedback (adults included). This motivates people to work hard when they feel appreciated and valued. Kids are the same. When they receive verbal praise, affection, or other reinforcers, it is plausible that children will repeat desired behaviors. During my time as a classroom teacher, I learned fairly quickly that most kids enjoy positive reinforcement and that it works! Rather than focusing on the negative behaviors, (not to say they shouldn’t be addressed) trying to highlight the positive behaviors is most effective. With that being said, it’s important to be mindful that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Some kids prefer receiving written praise, while others enjoy verbal praise. It’s also important to note that some kids enjoy public praise while others prefer receiving praise privately. So, whether it’s a sweet note we leave in our kids’ lunch box, sticky note on their desk at school or by simply saying out loud something like, “I’m proud of you,” regular encouragement supports a healthy mindset and build confidence.

Routine and Clear Communication

Structure is paramount for child development. When kids have a clear understanding of daily routines, it creates a sense of safety and comfort. Granted, schedules do change from time to time. However, if kids have a morning routine (get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth), they are set up for success. The same goes for in the classroom. When kids enter the room every day, they should know what the expectations are. They should be clearly displayed in the classroom (daily schedule) and students should be aware of their daily tasks. When kids come from disorganized environments that are chaotic, this can cause anxiety. When kids are in a heightened state of anxiety it becomes difficult for them to think and learn. So, try to think of ways to create clear, organized expectations for kids at home and at school.

Identify Safe People

It’s critical that kids have safe people to turn to at all times. Ensuring that kids know and feel comfortable coming to adults whenever they need something, is absolutely necessary. This can be accomplished by simply sitting down and telling kids that they can come to us and we are available to them whenever they need us. It always starts at home, so parents and caregivers are the first stop for this. However, not all homes are safe and that’s why kids need to know they can access safe adults at school as well. This can be teachers, school counselors, school psychologists, or any trusted adult in the school building. It can also be helpful to create opportunities for kids to write down who their safe adults are and keep that list in a safe place.

We offer Social Emotional Coaching where we work with families to ensure they have the resources and tools they need to support social emotional development. Sign up for a FREE Consult here! Happy Mental Health Awareness Month!

References

Child and adolescent mental health - 2022 National Healthcare Quality ... (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK587174/