May Matters: 5 Ways to Support Your Child’s Mental Health
Guest: Caroline Polian, third year undergraduate at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health includes our emotions and feelings. Mental health is also about our social wellbeing. Often, parents are so focused on their child hitting physical milestones such as being able to walk or sit up, that they overlook their child’s mental health. Here are five ways to nurture your child’s mental health.
Talk About Emotions: Teach your child about their emotions. A simple way to introduce emotions to your child is by reading age-appropriate books or role-playing with toys. Building emotional vocabulary enhances self-awareness, an essential step for emotional regulation. Examples include if your child says “I feel sad when my brother takes my toys.” You can validate them by saying “I’m sorry you feel that way.” Next, you can ask them how they want to speak up for themselves.
Practice Healthy Coping Skills: Coping skills are skills that you can teach your child to use during stressful times or when they are overwhelmed. Common coping methods that work well with kids include deep breathing, blowing bubbles, or using fidget toys. When you notice your child getting overwhelmed, take them to a quiet area to use a coping method. Choose whatever one works best for your child. Over time, you can get him or her to walk you through using it.
Communicate Openly: Foster open conversations about emotions, don’t try to hide the way you feel so they can see you modelling working through your emotions. With younger children, talk while playing to create a relaxed atmosphere. For older children, consider using a shared journal to write back and forth. Listening without judgment and validating emotions will encourage your child to share more with you.
Stick to a Schedule: Routines help children feel safe and secure. Block out time for fun and play, try to minimize salt and sugar, and have a regular bedtime to help strengthen your child’s mental health and rest.
Know When to Seek Help: Are you noticing negative or unusual changes in your child’s behavior? Start by talking to your child’s daycare worker or teacher. Then, if needed, consider a therapist. If you think your child may need an evaluation, you may need a psychologist or a psychiatrist. Your pediatrician can help link you with resources in your community. Remind your child that it is okay to struggle and that asking for help is not a weakness.