When it comes to nurturing our young children, we often focus on their physical health and educational milestones. But what about their emotional well-being? Is it too early to start thinking about mental health? Will introducing the idea of emotions at a young age cause problems?
Here are just a few reasons why we should be looking after mental health from the earliest opportunity;
1. The Impact of Early Development
Our children’s brains are highly adaptable in their early years. This is when the brain is learning and active, and positive and supportive experiences help build a strong foundation for emotional health. Even the earliest experiences shape how children understand and manage their feelings, and begin to answer the question 'Who am I?'.
2. Behaviour as communication
Even though our little ones can’t always articulate their feelings, they can certainly communicate them! Therapists often say 'All behaviour is communication' because children have little other way of letting us know how they feel. Changes in sleep patterns or increased irritability can be early signs that your child is struggling with something. By paying attention to these signals and addressing them with care, we can help our children recognise and navigate their feelings as they grow.
3. The importance of Play
At a young age, children are not developmentally able to sit down and talk about how they feel. Their brain just isn't ready. This, however, doesn't mean that they cannot express and make sense of these feelings - they do that through play. Child-led, unstructured playtime with a supportive adult is a wonderful opportunity for young people to process their inner world. Give it a try!
4. Welcoming ALL emotions
Sometimes parents think that if they talk about sadness with their child, they might make them feel sad and that they are shielding their child from difficult emotions by effectively pushing them 'under the rug'. The fact is that we ALL have feelings and emotions. Supporting your child to recognise their visiting emotions is a really important step in normalising these feelings and building a positive view of themselves. When we understand the emotion we are having, we can learn ways to deal with it, without shame.
5. The daily groundwork
The seemingly small parenting practices we do every day are more powerful than we often give credit for. Those consistent routines give your child a sense of security and stability. Providing emotional support through comforting words, empathy, and active listening helps them feel valued and understood. Encouraging open communication and validating their feelings fosters trust and strengthens the parent-child bond. This is the groundwork for strong emotional health - keep going!
In Summary
So, by taking these early steps, (such as reading this blog!) you’re doing a wonderful job to support your child's mental health in the future. It's never too early to start thinking about emotional development, and there are many things you can do at home to make a start.
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