Thinking about how to support your child’s mental health can feel overwhelming. We know that our kids are facing more pressures than ever with social media comparison and anxiety, plus they’ve experienced a global pandemic at a key time in their development. How do we encourage them to look after their mental health now, and as they grow up? 

We’ve rounded up a few ideas – start with one or two, and see where they take you!

Taking care of your own mental health is positive for your kids, and not only because you’ll have more capacity for positive parenting. Children learn through observing, so they’ll notice what we prioritise, how we handle mistakes, and how we bounce back. Being a healthy example definitely doesn’t mean handling everything like a pro! It’s great to share that we’re all still learning and trying, and there’s room to grow together. Maybe it’s looks like limiting time on your phone, modelling how we all benefit from having a break from screens. Maybe walking is your thing, or sitting somewhere beautiful clears your head. Share why it’s important to you, and keep making time for it.

We all process experiences differently, and we’ll each develop personal coping strategies for anxiety, uncertainty, and sadness. Physical bursts of activity can help shake out that flight-or-fight stress response – try star jumps, or energetic dancing. Listening to a favourite soothing playlist can be familiar and calming. And loads of us use creativity to get our inside feelings out on to a page, whether that’s through drawing, colouring, or writing in a journal. It may be instantly clear what works for your child, or you may need to try a couple of approaches and see what fits. As a pattern emerges, talk about it so your child can learn to use it independently, for example: ‘It seems like moving your body feels really good when you have anxious feelings’.

Children experience all the big feelings – toddler meltdowns, anyone? – but they don’t always know how to label or explain them. When we talk about what’s bubbling up inside, it can bridge this gap and offer the reassurance that it’s OK to feel a range of emotions (even if some aren’t pleasant to experience!) This could be as simple as something as “You wanted to stay longer at the park. You’re sad because it’s time to come home”. It may sound like stating the obvious, but empathy can have an almost magical effect as we feel seen and known.