Tips for Supporting Mental Health of Children

Good mental health is a great blessing. Nobody likes to be stressed. Find out some tips for supporting mental health of children.The minds of children are naive and innocent unlike adults. While adults understand what is happening around the world, children often need explanations and answers to things which they do not know about. Following are a few tips to support mental health of children. In this articleEncourage ThemTalk to ThemCheer Them UpPhysical FitnessMaintain a Calm and Positive AtmosphereDo Not Be Performance OrientedEncourage ThemJust like adults, children also need encouragement regularly. Just the way you feel happy when your boss appreciates you, similarly children also feel happy when they receive compliments. Try to encourage curiosity so that your children learn more and more. Try to encourage them when they work hard for the examinations. There are tons of ways to find nice stuff to say to kids. Just let them blossom, bloom and focus on the journey.Talk to ThemSpeak to kids and ask them if they need any help with home-work. Whenever they are alone, take them out to the mall or park. Teach them to play outdoor games and be active. Nature has a great healing power, hence when your kids are connected to nature they will feel better. Throw away the electronic gadgets and focus on outdoor camping, wildlife or adventure activities. Talk to them whenever their confidence is less.Cheer Them UpMany a time, kids also feel low and depressed. Talk to them and cheer them up. For example, losing a cricket match or getting low grades could upset them. Hence, teach them to overcome the situation and move on. Let them know that they will certainly get more opportunities in the future. Console them whenever they cry and try to help them stand on their own feet.Physical FitnessBeing physically fit is a must. It improves mental health. Avoid over-indulging on ice-creams and sweets. Feed them fresh vegetables, fruits, grains and foods high in vitamins and minerals. Tasty food is not always healthy. Home-made food is the best solution. Practicing yoga, basketball, swimming and other sports is a wonderful way to stay in shape. It is not necessary to join gym or classes. Physical activity and exercise can be done at home also.Maintain a Calm and Positive AtmosphereTry to maintain a calm and positive atmosphere without being surrounded by electronics all the time. Spend quality time together as a family. Have meals together and heart to heart conversations. Do not encourage negative thinking. Teach your child to respect others. Keeping a pet at home can greatly reduce stress. Like they say laughter is the best medicine. Hence be happy and positive without getting angry.Do Not Be Performance OrientedYes, as a parent you do want your kids to perform well in school and other activities. However, it is not always possible for kids to stand first in class or be the perfect child. They too may work hard and not be able to score well even after trying. Do not judge your child based on his or her performance only. A child who is an athlete may not be good at academics. Focus on your child’s talent and not flaws.There is a famous quote by Albert Einstein which says – “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”Be a parent who understands children well. Be like a friend and mentor to them. Maintain a respectful tone even while talking to kids. Do not get carried away by pressure and do not expect your child to always be the best. There will always be someone or the other who will be better. Let your child to grow at his or her own pace. The modern pace of life is very hectic hence keep your children grounded.How to support mental health of children? Why is it important to provide mental support to children? What can happen if children lack mental support in their life? Discuss here.