Mental health can often feel like a topic that is hard to tackle. And it can feel especially difficult to discuss with children.
It’s hard to know what terms to use, how to make the conversation developmentally appropriate, and how to not overwhelm them with information.
But we know that it is so important to have conversations on mental health. We know that approximately one in six children between the ages of two and eight have a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder (1).
But you don’t have to be an expert to help your kids. There are many practical ways to discuss mental health and provide the guidance that your kids need.
Growing Together
The theme that was selected this year for Children’s Mental Health Week is ‘Growing Together.’
This theme is reflective of the idea that mental health is a journey. We can go through periods of quick, intense growth, but then at other times, we can feel stuck and stagnant. There are highs and lows in the journey. There will be triumphs and setbacks.
In those hard times, we need to lean on each other to continue to grow and stay healthy.
Children and adults alike should always be working on bettering their mental health. Events like Children’s Mental Health Week remind us of that.
3 Ways To Start A Conversation About Mental Health
Especially with young children, it can be intimidating to know how to broach the topic of mental health. It can be more productive to simply talk about ‘feelings.’
Helping children identify and name their feelings is a crucial part of emotional health.
There are a variety of ways you can talk about feelings in a way that seems more concrete.
Reading Books On Feelings and Mental Health
There are so many great books out there that help explain difficult feelings and situations. Some that I would recommend include:
● The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland
● The Way I Feel by Janan Cain
● Can I Catch It Like A Cold? by The Center For Addiction and Mental Health
● Listening To My Body by Gabi Garcia
For children with anxiety, my books Sophie Swan Is Afraid Of Water!, Charlie Cub Is Afraid To Leave His Mother!, and Priscilla Puppy Is Afraid Of Everything! will be available soon. You can read more about them here.
Playing Games That Teach About Feelings
Games could include matching tiles that show different expressions or identifying feelings on flash cards.
Talk of feelings could also be involved in any game like Go Fish or UNO. You can talk about being excited when you draw the card you need or being frustrated when you lose. Talking in the moment about how you and your child are feeling will help them begin to name their emotions.
Make Art About How They Are Feeling
Providing a safe space for children to make art can let them express feelings that they may not be able to put into words.
Even if children do not yet have the fine motor skills to draw faces or people, the colors and way in which they create art may help you understand what they are feeling. Do they choose happy colors or sad colors? Do they show joy or frustration when creating? It’s easy to see what is most pressing on their mind when you see what they choose to paint or color.
Key Tips to Remember
You don’t have to have professional training to help your children with their mental health, but there are a few key things to keep in mind.
Listen Intently
Let them know that their feelings are valid. Give them plenty of time to formulate their thoughts and put their feelings into words. If they need a break before returning to the conversation, give them that space.
Let Them Ask Questions
How specific their questions are depends largely on how old they are. But it is important to be as honest as is developmentally appropriate. If they are old enough to formulate the question, they are often old enough to hear the answer. Be a source of quality, unbiased information.
Talk About Mental Health Often
Having conservations often about mental health will keep the line of communication open between you and your child.
Talk about mental health at the dinner table and in the car on the way to sports practice. Make the conversation commonplace, and your children will be more likely to come to you for help when they need it.
Brainstorm Ideas For Self-care
Self-care looks different for everyone, your child included. Self-care can involve any activity that makes them happy and helps them relax. Your child may know exactly what they like to do, or they may need your help to think of ideas. Additionally, they may need your push to do those self-care activities when they’re feeling down.
Celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week With Others
All of us could use more time to reflect and work on our mental health. Children’s Mental Health Week provides just that opportunity.
It also opens the door to having conversations with fellow teachers or parents about how to tackle mental health challenges with kids. It can show you who you can turn to for help and provide invaluable support to lean on. You may find yourself needing a sounding board after having these sometimes difficult conversations.
This journey is not a solo one. It is much better to do it together.
Parents and caregivers are such an important part of a child’s mental health. Your involvement can make this week life-changing for your child.
Continuing The Event All Year Long
Children’s Mental Health Week should not be the one time a year that schools, educators, and parents focus on their children’s mental health.
It is so important to be well-informed and constantly on the lookout for mental health struggles in our kids.
Working on our mental health together is not always easy, but it is a rewarding journey. It gives us the opportunity to grow closer to our children as we teach them about feelings, emotions, and mental health.
These conversations and activities will build an unbreakable bond between you and your children. And that is truly worth all the work that this journey requires.
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