16 Oct Children and Mental Health: How Parents Can Help
Being a parent can be very tasking sometimes. However, it is necessary for parents to support their children through the different stages of growth and development. Keep reading to know more about children and mental health and how parents can help.
There are a lot of ways in which parents can help their children on their mental health journey.
Children and Mental Health
Children’s mental health is a vast subject that encompasses a diverse range of professions, institutions, locations, activities, and social and cultural norms. Early childhood care is an equally vital and sometimes ignored aspect of a child’s development.
Show Good Coping Skills
Teaching your children how to deal with emotions is a way of helping them through their journey.
You can take them through activities such as painting, drawing, taking deep breaths, and going for walks. If you can’t be present, you can talk them through it. All of these things will help them cope easily.
Watch for Changes in Behaviour
It is not uncommon for kids to experience changes in the way they act through different stages of their lives.
If you notice that your child suddenly becomes withdrawn from their family, friends, or activities, it could be that they are going through something they can’t handle alone.
As a parent, tell them you love them and want to help them get through whatever is going on.
Keep an Open and Honest Communication
Children withdraw from people who judge them or invalidate their feelings. When your child knows they can reach out to you and that you will listen, there is a chance they will come to you when they have a bothering issue.
Always keep an open mind with them and be ready to help.
Establish routines and boundaries at home.
A child might have anxiety if they have an unplanned daily schedule.
A general routine to follow can provide peace in your child’s life. Also, setting boundaries has a lot to do with it. Your child has to know what’s expected of them, what they ought to say, touch, or do.
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Tell them you will always love and support them.
Children believe they are secure, loved, and important when the environment portrays all that. To them, those are the most important things, to be loved, held, and understood.
Encourage Them
Children love to be applauded; they love accolades. Always compliment them when they do well at something. It boosts their pride and confidence, which stays for a long time. Furthermore, offering positive rewards for activities encourages children to repeat those behaviours.
Encourage Them to Exercise
Engaging exercise provides a means for children to express themselves, which is important for their development both physically and mentally.
Encouraging children to find an exercise that they enjoy, especially early in life, is a way to spur their interest and keep them focused and engaged. Engaging in such exercises along with them will also help keep them involved.
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Discuss Emotions and Feelings Often
Children learn more from what they see their parents doing, and this includes their emotional reactions and expressions. Rather than giving simple answers like “good” or “fine”, when asked about your day, try talking about the different emotions you experienced during your day.
Share detailed experiences like when you were infuriated by a coworker’s attitude and how you managed your feelings in that situation.
This teaches them that these emotions are normal, suggests ways to manage them, and exposes them to various emotions they may experience. Don’t shy away from discussing mental health issues with them.
Seek Professional Assistance.
Acknowledging that your child requires assistance is a crucial ability to have as a parent. It might be difficult or upsetting at times to try to manage your child’s behaviour or respond correctly to their emotions. Don’t be scared to seek and request assistance—it may be quite beneficial to both you and your child.
Remember that children go through developmental changes that impact emotional expression and control, and it’s entirely typical to notice huge disparities in how your child handles each stage.
These tools can be extremely beneficial to your child’s mental health. However, if your kid is suffering from melancholy normality and you have tried all of your own options for helping them, get in touch with a professional therapist.
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