We all have mental health as well as physical health and it’s important to keep both in check. The number of children struggling with their mental health since the start of the pandemic has increased with 1 in every 6 suffering from a probable condition. This highlights the need to support children with their mental health which can only be done through open and honest conversations. Unlike physical health, it’s harder to detect and understand how to respond which is why I have provided some guidance below from an independent school in Bath.
- Teach Them About Emotions
Emotions are complicated. Knowing what they are and why you might be feeling a certain type of way can help you to deal with them better. As a start, you can teach your child about this to build their emotional intelligence.
- Talk
Talking is an important part of all relationships and should be for your children too. It allows you to see how they’re doing, spot any potential signs and by making them feel comfortable enough, they will likely come to you if ever they need anything. Talking is also good for relieving stress. As they say, a problem shared is a problem halved.
- Show How You Take Care of Your Own
As mentioned earlier, we all have mental health whether we have conditions that make us more susceptible to certain feelings or not. Showing your child that you actively look after your own can set a good example of how they should take care of theirs. Try things like self-care, spend time doing the things that you enjoy and talk to those around you.
- Mindfulness
Mindfulness techniques are techniques that your child can use to calm themselves down if ever they feel sad or overwhelmed. They usually help to regulate the breathing and shift focus from the matters that they are stemming from. Once calm, they can think about their problems clearly and work through them.
