Children and Mental Health
Mental health of children in the emotional, behavioral, social, and cognitive domains is one of the keystones of childhood development, just as important as their physical health.
World Health Organization (WHO) defines general health as “physical, mental and social well-being”. This means parents need to be as conscious of a child’s mental status as they are of a child’s physical condition. Supportive parenting, a secure home life and a positive learning environment in school are the key factors in protecting mental well being in childhood. Otherwise low self-worth, negative feelings, poor performance in school, and being involved in unhealthy lifestyles threaten their life.
As Parents you can promote your child’s mental health in various aspects;
Encourage responsibility in your child. Assign chores, establish routines, and help them to admit their faults and be honest about their mistakes.
Set boundaries for your child’s behavior. Provide consistent limits and follow through with reasonable consequences.
Listen to your child. Create a safe environment within your family where your child can express thoughts and feelings.
Nurture independence in your child. Praise your child’s efforts and encourage positive risk taking and decision-making.
Help your child with their special needs. If your child has a diagnosed disability, is excessively distracted, has some kind of developmental delay, is unable to concentrate in the classroom, or has frequent angry outbursts, she or he may benefit from considerations for special services. These measures may include psycho-educational, speech and language, and occupational therapy assessments.
A healthy mental condition allows children to think clearly, develop socially, learn new skills, improve their self-confidence and shape a healthy emotional outlook on life.
Dayonix Pharma/ December 2018
The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional regarding any medical condition. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in the blog and to describe best generally accepted current practices we cannot accept any liability for errors or omissions or for any consequences from application of the information given.