Of course, you want your children to be happy and healthy! While that does mean eating well and exercising, you don’t want to focus on only your child’s physical needs. You should also try to keep their mental well-being in a good state.
However, it can be much harder to determine a child’s mental health needs. We put this quick guide together for parents to learn how to boost their child’s mental well-being. Let’s get started!
1. Take Care of Your Mental Well-Being
The best way to boost a child’s mental health is to lead by example and take care of yourself too. When you care for your mental health, your child will also learn to use those skills. Plus, your young ones will have a much healthier environment to live in.
Children can get the same mental illnesses as adults in their life. So, if a parent is struggling with anxiety, depression, or another condition, their child is more likely to have those same problems later. You can keep your child’s mental well-being healthy by taking care of your mental health first.
When children see you taking charge of your mental health, they’ll also feel confident about the same in the future. You can let your child know it’s okay to reach out for help when they need it. They’ll feel more comfortable doing so if they see you doing it occasionally.
Overall, you’ll be in a better state of mind to care for your child when you focus on improving your mental health.
2. Listen to Your Child
Many children who have mental health issues don’t feel heard by the adults in their lives. You’ll want to be attentive to what your child tells you. Doing so will also help to build trust between you and your child. You want your kids to feel comfortable coming to you with any problems.
It helps if you are interested in what your child’s up to. Ask them about what they did that day, school, and other activities. You’ll better understand how your child feels the more you listen to them.
If your child trusts you, they’ll come to you with issues at school or other areas of their life. You can work with them on solutions, so they feel less anxious.
3. Build Healthy Habits Together
Next, you’ll want to build healthy habits with your child. You should encourage them to play outside, read their favorite books, and eat a healthy diet. It’s easier for children to stay healthy when they see their parents doing the same. You should also keep a positive attitude so your child enjoys being healthy and participating in activities with you.
Teaching your child mindfulness will also help them with their mental well-being. You can practice meditation together and learn the best ways to manage stress.
4. Practice Good Self-Esteem
Children with good self-esteem have better mental health and more confidence. You can boost your child’s self-esteem and teach them how to develop it independently.
Children know when adults exaggerate, so you want to offer them genuine praise when they try hard. For example, telling your child, they did well on a test they studied for is good. However, you don’t want to tell them they’re smarter than all their peers. They’ll know you’re exaggerating, which could lead to unhealthy self-esteem or doubts.
Kids naturally want some independence, which also builds their self-esteem. You can tell them you trust them to do their homework on their own or let them make their food. You can praise them when they do a good job and put in the effort.
Allowing your child some independence where appropriate will enable them to build their self-esteem. They’ll also use these skills throughout the rest of their life, so it’s good to establish healthy self-esteem building when they’re young.
5. Consider a Neuropsychological Evaluation
You might consider going through a neuropsychological evaluation if you believe your child has mental health issues. These tests bring cognitive dysfunction to light and determine how serious it is. Your child will undergo evaluations that check their memory, problem-solving skills, and more.
The results will let you know your child’s current mental health state. From there, you can work with professionals to boost your child’s mental well-being and teach them the necessary skills.
Children who show signs of changes in their cognitive abilities should go through one of these evaluations.
6. Play Together Often
Next, you will want to play with your child frequently. You should set aside time every day to spend time with your child. Doing so also shows them that they’re worth your time and energy.
Healthy play is excellent for children and is essential for their brain development. It allows them to be creative, develops physical and mental skills, and communicate better. Play helps children learn about themselves and the world, so you should encourage it as much as possible.
You’ll also form a stronger bond with your child when you play with them, allowing them to trust you more. When your child feels closer to you, they won’t hesitate to come to you with any issues they face.
7. Keep an Eye Out for Bad Mental Health
You should also watch for signs of bad mental health in your child. If there’s a sudden change in your child’s personality, you’ll want to talk with them.
You should talk with your child’s doctor if you’re worried about some signs that you’re seeing. It’s important to speak with them if you notice the changes in your child’s mood last longer than two weeks or if they are struggling in various areas of their life.
The sooner you react to bad mental health, the sooner you can help your child improve it.
Be Proactive With Mental Health!
When you’re proactive with mental health, your child will get a boost to their well-being. You want to teach them the skills to stay healthy and happy and build a strong sense of self-worth.
If you’re unsure what to do, it’s best to contact professionals for more help.
