Meltdowns, slammed doors, lack of motivation, loss of resilience. Does that sound familiar? If you can relate, your child may be experiencing a decline in emotional wellbeing. Uncertainty and fear can be immense and have a significant impact on the mental and emotional health of millions of people worldwide, including children.
Right here in Lake Macquarie, Laura from Well Education specialises in empowering children. Laura is an accredited and highly experienced primary school teacher with focused expertise in the area of social and emotional learning. So we’ve asked Laura to expand on this subject and help us understand more about what we can do as parents.
Emotional wellbeing
Our emotional wellbeing is an important part of life. It influences how we respond and adapt to challenges and adversity, and it impacts how we see ourselves and how we function socially.
So, how can you successfully manage emotional wellbeing for kids?
The first step is awareness. Being aware of the factors that impact our mental health and the signs to look out for within your family unit helps you catch any emotional declines early and put support practices into place quickly.
Influencing factors
In my experience, factors that have a major influence on a child’s emotional health include trauma, relationships, change, and times of transition. Times of uncertainty can be particularly difficult for a child to navigate. Not knowing what the future holds and feeling helpless. These are challenging emotions for adults, let alone children.
Relationships are another key factor. Negative relationships can harm a child’s self-worth and confidence, and a sudden end to relationships can leave them feeling confused and unvalued.
Our own emotional health impacts our children, too. They look to us for support, for guidance, and to calm their fears, so if we are fearful, they can be too.
Signs to look out for
It’s important to note that some children can also mask their feelings quite well. Signs to look out for include separation anxiety, high levels of worry or stress, lack of resilience, a sudden change in behaviour, feelings of hopelessness, negative self-talk, lack of motivation, and loss of interest.
What can you do?
If you’re concerned about your child’s emotional wellbeing, be assured that there are many avenues of support. Every child, family, and situation is different, so what works for one may not work for another. Also, the severity of emotional and mental health issues differs vastly.
Have an open and honest conversation with your child. Try to get to the root of the issue, gently. If you’re deeply concerned, seek help straight away. I believe the first step should be your family doctor, particularly if your child is familiar with your doctor and trusts them. Your doctor can refer you to a child psychologist if they deem it necessary, or an occupational therapist.
At school
Your school may be able to assist by providing access to a school counsellor or social-emotional learning programs. I would encourage a discussion with your child’s school to see what support they have available. There are also external emotional wellbeing workshops and programs Australia-wide, and a range of online support services including Beyond Blue, Lifeline, Head Space, and Kids Helpline.
https://www.youthbeyondblue.com/
https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/topics/lifeline-services
Contributor:
Founder: Laura Collison, Well Education- Emotional and Social Wellbeing Education for Children
Description: Well Education exists for one purpose– to support our youths in developing knowledge, understanding, and practises to take control of their own emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing. Our programs have been developed to target specific age groups and their unique social, emotional, and physical needs. This ensures relevant content that is both engaging and speaks directly to their areas of need.
Phone: 0404 628 420
Email: hello@welleducation.com.au
