As the world continues facing new and more significant challenges, it’s more important than ever that we look after children’s mental health. Many find themselves suddenly separated from classmates because of the impacts of the coronavirus. While there is hope that things will approach something resembling normal in the future, many children may need help recovering from the impacts caused by the fallout. The compassionate and experienced team at Pines Recovery Life Detox can help.
What Children Need When It Comes to Mental Health
It’s often easier for parents to identify a child’s physical needs. However, it takes more than providing food, clothes, and a place to live to see children’s mental health. It’s not always obvious what a child needs to put them in a better state of mind. They may not be good a communicating what is they want, and parents can sometimes miss signs that something might be amiss.
Things you can do as a parent to improve your child’s mental health include:
- Making sure they receive unconditional family love and support
- Are made to feel confident
- Receive boosts to their self-esteem
- Create opportunities where they can go out and safely play with other children
- Encourage children academically
- Providing them with guidance and discipline as needed
One of the most important things you can do for children when it comes to their mental health is to make sure they feel accepted and wanted within the family unit. They should understand that they are enough and that your love is not dependent on what they accomplish.
How You Can Build Up a Child’s Mental Health
Encourage your child to explore a new interest or dive deeper into current ones. Offer encouragement as they make discoveries. It could be something small like learning a new game or starting a new book. Make sure they have a safe place to do these things. Try to involve yourself whenever possible to help build their self-confidence and strengthen your bond.
Try not to set unrealistic goals for your children. Help children come up with realistic goals that match their ambition. The goal is to help them embrace their abilities and continue building their self-esteem.
You should try and refrain from making sarcastic remarks in the name of being funny. What may seem amusing to you can be devastating to a child. A careless word can have a lasting impact on a child’s psyche and eventually affect their mental health.
Try to Create a Fun Environment
Everything shouldn’t be about learning. Sometimes children need space to have fun. Having a playmate around can encourage their social development and practice problem-solving skills with others outside of the family. Children can learn a lot about themselves and their strengths based on their interactions with other children.
Many children love it when parents take time out to join in on their play. Try to push past any exhaustion you may be feeling and involve yourself in a child’s fun. You can do things like putting together a puzzle or seeing who can hit a ball the farthest. These positive interactions can form memories that reinforce a child’s mental health.
Another thing you can do to look after children’s mental health is to monitor how much time they spend on video games and mobile devices. Try to keep them from using them too close to bedtime, as that can cause disruptions in sleep. You should try and limit the amount of TV your child watches each day.
Make Yourself Better For Your Family
If you are struggling with drugs or alcohol, the fallout from your actions can harm your children’s mental health. Pines Recovery Life Detox programs offer you the chance to start getting better and becoming a better influence in your children’s lives.
If you’re ready to make a change for yourself and your family, call Pines Recovery Life Detox at 800.263.3869, contact us online.
