31/01/2023

Supporting Children's Mental Health

Supporting children's mental health is a key concern for parents and childcare settings.

Great progress has been made over the last couple of years in recognising the importance of our kids emotional wellbeing. Place2Be has been shining the spotlight on the importance of children's mental health since 2015. Each year hundreds of schools and colleges get behind Children's Mental Health Week, helping to support thousands of children, parents and carers. Taking place 6-12th February, this is a great opportunity to highlight the importance of young people's mental health.

With around 5 children in every classroom suffering from mental health problems, bullying or bereavement, it's so important that we as parents, communities and organisations do what we can to try and help.

We're all about providing fun experiences and improving children's mental and physical health in the school holidays, so couldn't be more on board with this annual campaign.

Let's connect

This year's theme for Children's Mental Health Week is all about encouraging children to look at how we can make meaningful connections. 

We don't live in isolation and building connections is hugely important to our wellbeing. People thrive in communities individuals benefit significantly from positive, healthy connections with others.

Connecting to others in healthy, rewarding and meaningful ways has a hugely positive impact on our mental health. Likewise, feeling disconnected, isolated or lonely can have a negative impact on our wellbeing. 

Our human relationships are key to how we feel.

Mental Health Week tips for parents

Mental Health Week provide a number of resources for parents to help support children. 

Here are some top tips on how you can connect with your child and help them to make meaningful connections:

• Connect with your child in everyday ways
  • Be fully in the moment with your child. For example, when you pick them up for school or are driving in the car. Ignore distractions and focus on them.
• Talk to your child about important connections
  • Chat with them about people who are important to them. Let them know it's ok to talk about people they miss as well as being happy about people they are connected to
• Talk to your child about friends
  • Be open to hearing about their friendships. Listen without judgement and support them with difficult relationships
• Take an interest in your child's world
  • If you show an interest in things that matter to them, this is likely to open up more conversations
• Find time to connect as a family
  • There are simple ways to do this, such as cooking together, watching a film or even the weekly shop!
• Try to resolve conflict and re-connect after arguments
  • Disagreements are inevitable at times. Show your child how to disagree in appropriate ways, how to say sorry and make amends

Get the full tips from Children's Mental Health Week

Activities for kids

Children's Mental Health Week have created some fun and engaging age appropriate activities based around building connections.

Puzzle Pieces video activity for 4-7 year olds.

Paperchains video activity for 7-11 year olds.

Exchanging postcards video activity for 11-14 year olds.

Building Connections video activity for 14-18 year olds.

Supporting children's mental and physical health

Barracudas is passionate about supporting children's mental and physical health. Children's Mental Health Week is fantastic chance for us to reflect on the wellbeing of young people. Every year they provide useful insights and helpful resources for parents and schools.

Take a look back at Children's Mental Health Week 2022, Children's Mental Week 2021 and Children's Mental Health Week 2020 or visit Place2Be Children's Mental Week to see all previous themes for useful tips.

See how holiday camps boost confidence and improve children's wellbeing.