Early Childhood Mental Health

What does it look like and how can you support your kiddo during every season?

What is early childhood mental health?

Children are rapidly developing. Their brains are taking in a huge amount of information during their early years. Children’s environments, social interactions, and experiences are molding their development every day. They respond differently than adults to stressful situations because their brains are constantly developing. Important to maintaining healthy brain development, help your child cope and supporting them through tough times.

How can you support your child’s mental health?

There are two ways to support positive mental health in your child. One way is through creating an environment for learning. Another is by providing positive interactions as they discover that environment. It’s important to ensure they’re given opportunities for open-ended discussion, problem-solving, and fun! Offer positive feedback along the way.

Structure their learning environment to include easy access to open-ended play materials like art supplies, books, etc. Make space for independent play with a cozy corner for quiet play.

Encourage them with phrases as they play such as “This area looks so great since you put your toys back.” or “Wow! Look at how hard you worked to build that tall tower.” and “I love the way you didn't stop trying to put that puzzle together, you didn’t quit!”

Be present, engaging, and encouraging. These are key components to ensure your child’s mental health remains positive. This sets them up for a successful future.

What does it look like when a child is stressed?

First, pay attention to behavior. Signs of stress may not be apparent because of a child’s inability to verbalize their feelings. The signs of stress can appear for a brief time or last for longer periods. You may observe a number of changes. This can be changes to appetite, sleep patterns or potty habits. It is common to see an increase in separation anxiety from caregivers and teachers. Bad dreams, crying spells, nail biting, thumb sucking or hair pulling can occur. A child can feel physically unwell when stressed, this can come in the form of head or tummy aches. Wanting to be alone and withdrawing from others along with increased aggression are huge signs of something disrupting a child's mental health. The themes of play children engage in can help them express their current situation.

What can you do to support your child during a stressful situation?

Now that we know what to look for, you can support children by sharing and teaching them ways to cope such as:

• Expressing their feelings. Allow them to feel and be in whatever mood they need to be in. Let them know it is okay to feel sad or mad. Give them space.

• Lower expectations and avoid putting too much pressure on kiddos.

• Offer children proper nutrition and sleep. Engage in relaxation and mindfulness practices such as breathing, stretching, or listening to soothing music.

• Use books as a way for children to see characters in stressful situations and learn to cope.

• Try to be consistent and maintain your daily routines. Children feel safe and secure when their normal routines go as planned.

• Encourage art and journaling. Kiddos will be able to express their feelings through writing or drawing images. Encourage kiddos to add emotions and faces that express them going through an emotion like happiness, sadness or anger.

• Encourage dance, and physical exercise. Dance parties are a great way to get up and moving! Physical activity decreases stress.

• Encourage stuffed animal play or pretend play. Children will be able to create a reality they can control and recreate stressful events in a way they can understand.

Mental health in childhood can affect children’s lives well into their future. Equip yourself and your children with ways to manage hard situations or times of stress. This will help prepare them to navigate difficult emotions and situations with confidence during their early years and beyond.