Right now children are not getting enough mental health support. Child mental health expert, Shahana Knight, shares her insight into why it’s important for both children and adults to understand and recognise their emotions. Being kind can help us connect with others, and our relationships play a crucial role in our mental health and wellbeing in the long term. 10% of children and young people aged 5 to 16 have a clinically diagnosed mental health disorder. Our wellbeing practitioners sometimes use activities to help young people with different mental health problems.
For babies and very young children you can let them know you are there for them by quietly sitting close to them. It’s also important to give children space to talk about what is happening globally, nationally or locally – such as climate change, global conflict, crime or a bereavement. Kids who feel safe to try, fail, and try again are more likely to bounce back from life’s little (and big) bumps. The NSPCC provides excellent guidance for parents on everything from social media to cyberbullying. The trick isn’t to banish them (unless you fancy a household mutiny), but to help kids use tech in healthy ways. While you can’t pick their mates—no matter how much you’d love to veto little Timmy, the local snot-rocket champ—you can support their social skills.
The Good Childhood Report
To apply the rule, after every 20 minutes of screen time, a person needs to take a 20-second break to look at something at least 20 feet away. Again, though, this study does not establish a causal relationship between social media and depression. However, there was a stronger link between problematic social media use and depression. One of the most well-studied effects of social media use is on body image, or how satisfied a person is with their appearance.
- This feelings check in resource is suitable for parents, carers, teachers, social workers, foster carers, SEN staff, pastoral teams and mental health professionals working with children, kids, teenagers and young people in schools or at home.
- When parents and caregivers respond empathetically to a child’s emotional expressions, they create a safe space for emotional exploration and growth.
- It’s tempting to fill every gap with activities or digital distractions, but sometimes the best support is simply to step back.
- The shared experience of creating music together strengthens social bonds and promotes feelings of support and belonging.
- Children aged experience emotions that are big, intense and fast-changing.
While emotional regulation is all about how we process and manage emotion, self-regulation is about how we express those emotions on a behavioral level. The use of these strategies demonstrates your client’s self-awareness and a proactive approach to managing emotions in healthy and adaptive ways. Effective emotional regulation enables us to respond appropriately to life’s challenges without becoming overwhelmed or acting impulsively. Emotional regulation refers to the ability to influence which emotions we feel, when we feel them, and how we express or experience them.
Feelings
If you or your child are in a mental health crisis, get help straight away. Scope has advice on managing stress when caring for a disabled child and Young Minds has lots of support for parents. Regularly ask your child how they’re doing, to help them get used to talking about their feelings, and know there’s always someone there to listen. Remember that every child’s emotional development is unique, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Physical activity, whether it’s dancing, playing outside, or doing yoga, releases feel-good hormones and reduces stress.
Sensory rooms provide safe, predictable spaces where children can practise these skills regularly, supporting long-term mental wellbeing. These experiences support focus, reduce tension and help children regulate emotions through enjoyable sensory input. These resources help reduce anxiety, support body awareness and offer a safe outlet for energy, allowing children to regulate before emotions escalate. By recognising this, adults can help children develop self-regulation skills, manage stress and feel more confident in everyday situations.
When your child makes a mistake, what do you say to them? Do you throw your hands in the air and say “it’s too hard” or do you see your mistake as a chance to learn something new? Then invite him or her to make a decision, and be supportive. When they feel understood, ask them “What do YOU think we should do? When your child is faced with a https://www.lightspeedsystems.com/blog/may-is-mental-health-awareness-month-88-ways-to-get-help-information-and-support/ problem, listen to them and try to see the world through their eyes.