Early Years education is essential in preparing young children for school and life in general. This preparation includes ensuring children have good mental health. Children can be vulnerable to poor mental health during Early Years which develop into more serious problems as children develop.
At Little Steps Day Care Ltd, this month’s blog is looking at early childhood mental health and how Early Years settings can help. Call us in Renhold on 01234 889518 for more information.
Proactive Approach to Good Mental Health
Personal, social and emotional development is one of the key areas in Early Years learning and is a good place to start when supporting children. Practitioners can plan activities that help children learn and develop positive mental and emotional health.
Some activities that can be used to help children identify their feelings include story time and play. Story time enables a child to identify with a character in a story. Furthermore, play provides children with the opportunity to interact with others and learn to share.
Play allows children to express themselves and make their own decisions. Other skills in play that promote good mental health are confidence and curiosity. It enables them to find themselves.
Signs of Positive Mental Health
Some of the indicators of good early childhood mental health include:
- The ability to listen and respond to a teacher’s instructions and comply with the rules.
- The ability to form positive relationships with both children and teachers.
- Sensitivity to their own and other’s needs.
Children Should be Supported
All Early Years providers should have the appropriate policies and procedures for supporting children with health issues. This often includes discussions with parents and caregivers, involving a care and support plan.
A child’s parents or caregivers will have the largest impact on their mental health. Those in a home with security and love often guarantees a mentally positive child. However, children who live with a domestic abuser or parent with poor mental health, they will be negatively affected.
Furthermore, oppressive parents who discourage their children from expressing themselves can have a negative impact, in addition to external social factors including poverty, poor housing and the coronavirus pandemic.
Signs of Poor Mental Health
Some symptoms of poor mental health in children include:
- Children from infancy to 2 years old becoming easily distressed and crying more.
- Children from age 4 to 6 may return to behaviours they have outgrown such as bed-wetting, separation anxiety and tantrums.
How Can We Help?
As practitioners, we will work to identify the reason why a child displays any signs of poor mental health. Early intervention is essential in resolving this issue and preventing them from escalating. Depending on the severity, we may need to consult with parents to develop a solution.
The quicker we react, the more chance we can help children recover and lead a more positive life after Early Years.
Contact Us
For more information about how we can support children’s mental health during Early Years, contact Little Steps Day Care Ltd. We recognise the importance of positive early experiences. Call us on 01234 889518 or 07340 956133.
Alternatively, fill out our online contact form.
Visit our Facebook for the latest updates.
