Supporting Your Child with their Mental Health

23rd May 2022 Family

This is a collaborative post, thank you for supporting the posts which make this blog possible.

Mental health is very complex and something that most of us know little about. As a result, it can be difficult to support someone with their mental wellbeing. When it comes to our child’s physical health, we know that we need to give them three nutritious meals a day and encourage plenty of exercise and sleep. It’s a lot harder to figure out what to do to ensure they are emotionally healthy. I have teamed up with a junior school in Somerset to share some advice on how you can support your child with their mental health.

Photo by Ben Wicks on Unsplash

Promote Open Communication

It’s crucial that your child feels like they have someone to open up to at home so that they don’t keep their feelings bottled up. Talk about your own emotions with your child so that they feel comfortable doing the same to you. Try not to judge them or belittle their feelings, and instead provide them with plenty of encouragement and support, otherwise they will feel reluctant to open up again going forward. If your child doesn’t open up to you about what they’re going through, you won’t be able to help them overcome certain challenges.

Don’t Put Pressure On Them

Of course, we all want our children to succeed, but be careful not to put too much pressure on. Doing so will heighten negative feelings of stress and anxiety. Instead, remind them that you are proud of them no matter what. Make sure that they feel loved and supported, even if they’ve made a mistake or failed in some way. 

Boost their Confidence

Your child’s mental health will be greatly affected by their self-esteem. If they are confident in their abilities and comfortable stepping out of their comfort zone from time to time, they will be less likely to suffer with nerves and other difficult emotions. Find ways to build up their confidence, like encouraging them to join an extra-curricular activity so that they can develop their skills and make new friends.