These Are Seven Things You Can Do to Support The Mental Health of Your Children

As a parent, you are often focused on ensuring your children are physically safe. However, also remember to check on their mental health. Having a positive outlook helps your children to perform better in school. So, here are some ways you can support their mental health. 

1. Take Care of Your Mental Health First 

While putting your kids first, still remember to take care of your own needs. Children often intimate your behavior. So, if you’re showing signs of anxiety or depression, they may pick up on this. Also, children of parents with mental disorders have a higher risk of developing one. If both parents have an illness, the risk is even greater. 

Keep in mind if you’re feeling mentally unstable, it can disrupt your family life. It may also interfere with your parenting abilities or cause you to show less affection. This inconsistency can negatively impact your child’s mental health. 

So, if have low energy or notice changes in your eating and sleeping habits, talk with your doctor. Consider therapy or medication if symptoms are persistent. 

Here are some other ways to improve your mental health to try out:

• Stay positive
• Practice gratitude
• Be physically active 
• Connect with others
• Meditation 

2.  Show Your Kids They Can Trust You

Having a good relationship with your kids is critical to support their mental health. You want them to feel safe and secure coming to you with sensitive information. To build trust, ensure you’re meeting their needs both physically and mentally.  Also, consider playing with your child or reading to them to create a stronger bond. 

Another thing to remember is consistency is key. Make sure your words and actions line up. This will help your kids trust you better. 

3. Foster Healthy Connections

Having multiple social connections is essential for good mental health. People with positive relationships tend to feel less anxious or depressed. They even can have higher-self esteem and greater empathy toward others. 

While you’re a great source of support, also consider having your child reach out to other family members. Along with family, encourage connection with classmates. Try to set up playdates with their friends throughout the week. If you have family that lives further away, set up virtual conference calls. 

4.  Remain Consistent 

Having a source of structure is important in a child’s life. They like to know what comes next. When things change suddenly, this can cause your child to feel anxious or act out. So, to help your child with significant transitions, like moving to a new school, set up a routine. Establish a daily schedule and mark it on your calendar.

Here are some tips for creating an effective home routine for your child:

• Set up specific times for academic work and breaks
• Create time to for art or music
• Schedule in time to go outside 
• Incorporate some quiet time 
• Plan out meal and snack times

5.  Teach Coping Skills

Since your child is likely to face challenges in life, handling stress is key. This is why you want to teach them healthy stress-management techniques. One strategy is to encourage them to verbally express their feelings. Although, for some kids, this may seem intimidating or like a difficult task. So, consider having them write in a journal instead. 

Keep in mind you want to find coping strategies that are beneficial to your child’s personality. 

Here are some other stress-relief techniques to suggest:

• Going outside
• Breathing exercises
• Mediation
• Listening to music
• Taking a bath 

6.   Encourage a Healthy Lifestyle

Eating right, getting enough sleep, and exercising are important for staying physically healthy. However, they can also impact your child’s mental health. Try preparing your kids well-balanced meals with plenty of fruits and vegetables. 

Also, set up a bedtime routine to ensure your children get enough sleep. Suppose your child is between three to six years old; they need at least 10-12 hours of sleep per day. To help them rest better, consider limiting electric use before bed. 

When it comes to getting physical exercise, encourage kids to play outside. Playing outside allows them to improve their motor skills and strengthens their immune system. Being outdoors also can boost your child’s mood. Consider taking them to a playground to help decrease stress.

Also incorporating, mindfulness and gratitude activities can help improve your child’s mental health. Being in the moment can allow them to release some negative feelings. 

7. Build-up Their Self Esteem 

Self-esteem is an essential factor in mental health. Lower self-confidence can cause your child to feel depressed. As a parent, you want to boost their self-esteem while also giving them tips to do it themselves. 

Try to provide praise that is both genuine and realistic. For example, compliment their effort instead of qualities out of their control. Another tip is to encourage them to be more independent. This will help them feel more capable and increase their self-confidence. 

Here are some other ways to help your child build their self-esteem:

• Model confident behavior
• Be positive about your child’s mistakes
• Help your kid find their passion
• Encourage them to try new things
• Set goals 

How to Improve Your Child’s Mental Health

As a parent, you want what’s best for your child. So seeing them struggling is difficult. This is why it’s crucial to create a positive home environment for your children. To do that, follow these tips to keep your kids happy and healthy!