What Every Child Needs for Good Mental Health

As a parent, you have a lot on your plate—from homework to soccer practice to getting dinner on the table. The last thing you might be thinking about is your child's mental health. It’s easy to identify a child’s physical needs, but a child’s mental and emotional needs may not be so obvious. The good news is that there are many tools and resources available to help you guide your child's journey toward emotional resilience and happiness. Here are some quick tips from our Student Services Department.

Give your child unconditional love.
Love, security, and acceptance should be at the heart of family life. Children need to know that love does not depend on their accomplishments. Mistakes should be expected and accepted. Confidence grows in a home full of unconditional love and affection.

Nurture your child's confidence and self-esteem.

Give your child praise and encouragement as they learn new skills. Your attention helps build their self-confidence and self-esteem. Help your child set realistic goals, and be honest with them about the process of learning, growing, and making mistakes.

Make time for play!

Encourage children to play. Playtime is as important to their development as food and good care. It helps children be creative, learn problem-solving skills, and learn self-control. Good, hardy play, which includes running and yelling, is not only fun, but helps children to be physically and mentally healthy. Create opportunities for children to play with you, with friends, and independently.

Create appropriate expectations with your child.

As members of a family, children need to learn the rules of the family unit. Be firm, but kind and realistic with your expectations. Help them begin to learn the “why” behind the positive and negative consequences of their choices. Take the opportunity to talk with them about your own feelings and choices. Their first teacher is you!

Provide a safe and secure home.

It is okay for children to feel afraid sometimes.  Everyone is afraid of something at some point in their life. Fear and anxiety grow out of experiences that we do not understand. Be loving, patient, and reassuring as you help your child work through their fears. 

When to seek help:

Parents and family members are usually the first to notice if a child has problems with emotions or behavior. Your observations with those of teachers and other caregivers may lead you to seek help for your child. If you suspect a problem or have questions, consult your school counselor, pediatrician, or a mental health professional.

You are not alone as you seek to nurture good mental and emotional health in your child. The teachers, administrators, and support staff of Cache County School District are committed to providing resources and services that help your child thrive at school. Together, let’s make this school year one where every student feels seen, heard, and valued!

For more information, please visit: https://www.ccsdut.org/departments/student-services/mental-health-information