Social and emotional health IS SO IMPORTANT. It is a better predictor of success than good grades, IQ, or socio-economic status. And children who live in a home that promotes social-emotional well being are more likely to become mentally healthy adults! Parents can promote mental health simply by having strong, loving relationships with their children, setting healthy limits within the home, and modeling healthy behavior. Please consider the following tips on nurturing your children's mental health:
Actively listen to your children. Give them your presence and eye contact while you listen. If it is important to them, it should be important to you too! Surround your children with healthy adult role models. Teach them to be safe, and make sure they feel safe. Stay calm when your child has elevated emotions. View your child's behavior as a window to their thoughts and feelings. Try to understand them! Limit screen time for your children, and model screen time limits for yourself! Include exercise and active play as a part of your daily routine. Bonus if your active play is outside! Hug! And snuggle! And read together! Set healthy limits. Be consistent. Spend family time together every day. Make it a part of your routine. This could be a family dinner together, a board game together, a book together, or a walk around the block together. Believe them. Show them that what they say matters. Tell the truth. Let them know that the truth is important to you. Praise them when they tell the truth, especially when it was not easy for them. Share your feelings, and acknowledge their feelings. Avoid comments such as "Don't cry", and try comments like "You seem sad. Can I give you a hug?" instead. Be patient. Allow children to try things on their own, even if it takes longer! Even if it might result in a mess! When your child asks questions, provide them with honest, age-appropriate information. Get down on the floor with them. Sometimes the first step to shared enjoyment is simply getting down on their level and allowing them to introduce a play idea. Have fun together! Share things you enjoy with your children. Enjoy the simple pleasures in life together this summer - like popsicles, swimming, and sprinklers!
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AuthorHi, I'm Brie Krentz, and I'm the School Psychologist at HGECC. I care about the social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health of all of our children, and I believe in Conscious Discipline as a way to minimize behavior problems and to help children connect meaningfully with others. Archives
October 2021
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