As part of Children’s Mental Health Week, in partnership with Place2Be, the focus this year is on encouraging children and young people to express their emotions. In this blog, we’ll explore practical ways parents can support their child’s mental health in understanding, expressing, and managing their feelings with confidence.

1. Embrace the Power of Co-Regulation 🧠✨

Co-regulation is the process of helping your child manage their emotions through mutual support and understanding. This is essential for children, especially when they’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious. Establishing a co-regulation practice not only helps children navigate their feelings but also strengthens the bond between you and your child. Here’s how you can implement co-regulation effectively:

If your child needs to let off steam, co-regulate with gusto!

Rocking gently with your child in a hug or side by side.

Swaying, bouncing, or tapping in rhythm to a beat (clapping, drumming on thighs).

Running around a big.

Outside games that involve coordination.

Nature hunts.

Physical challenge- 3 push ups, 5 star jumps, 10 hops on both legs.

If your child is is needing more connection and balance, co-regulate with calm

• Create a Calming Ritual: Design a calming ritual that you can do together. This could include breathing exercises, gentle stretches, or even listening to calming music. When your child feels anxious or upset, remind them of this ritual, so they have a go-to method for finding their calm.
• Model Your Own Calmness: Children often look to their parents for cues on how to react in stressful situations. By modelling calmness and self-regulation, you teach your child valuable coping mechanisms. When you feel overwhelmed, verbalise what you’re doing to regain your calm. For example, you might say, “I’m feeling a bit stressed, so I’m going to take a few deep breaths to help me feel better.”
• Use Visual Aids: Consider creating a visual aid that outlines calming techniques. You can use pictures or drawings that depict activities like deep breathing, stretching, or reading a book. Having this visual reminder can be a helpful tool for your child to refer to when they need to co-regulate.

Build Emotional Vocabulary

Another essential aspect of co-regulation is helping your child identify and articulate their emotions. Teach them a range of emotional vocabulary so they can express what they’re feeling. Use a feelings chart or flashcards with different emotions, encouraging them to pick one that represents how they feel at that moment. This will empower them to communicate their emotions better and reduce frustration when they’re feeling overwhelmed.

2. Daily Check-Ins 💖

Creating a habit of daily check-ins can greatly enhance your connection with your child. These moments of connection are vital for fostering emotional security and trust. Make the most of these check-ins by:

Authentically Listen

Choose a space and time in the day where distractions are minimised—this could be during a walk, while preparing dinner, or simply sitting together in a cosy spot at home. Use this time to genuinely listen to your child’s thoughts and feelings. Be present and give them your undivided attention. This practice not only shows your child that their feelings matter, but it also opens the door for meaningful conversations about their day, challenges, and successes.

• Ask Open-Ended Questions: Instead of asking questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no, try asking open-ended questions. For example, you might ask, “What was the best part of your day?” or “Can you tell me about something that made you happy today?” This encourages your child to express themselves more fully and fosters deeper communication.
• Create a Comfortable Environment: Make sure your check-in time is comfortable and inviting. This could mean snuggling up on the couch with blankets, sitting outside in the sunshine, or having a quiet moment before bedtime. When children feel comfortable, they are more likely to open up about their feelings.
• Be Patient and Present: Sometimes, children may not feel like talking right away. If this happens, let them know that you’re there for them whenever they’re ready to share. It’s important to be patient and provide a space for them to express their emotions in their own time. 

3. Nurturing a Growth Mindset 🚀

Fostering a growth mindset in your child can transform the way they perceive challenges and setbacks. Instead of seeing obstacles as roadblocks, encourage them to view them as opportunities for growth. Here’s how you can nurture this mindset:

Flip Unhelpful Thoughts

Work together to identify negative or unhelpful thoughts your child may have. Help them reframe these thoughts into empowering affirmations. For example, if they say, “I can’t do this,” encourage them to replace it with, “I can try my best and learn from my mistakes.” This simple shift in language can have a profound impact on their outlook and resilience.

• Celebrate Efforts, Not Just Results: Encourage your child to focus on the effort they put into tasks rather than just the outcome. Celebrate their hard work, even if they didn’t achieve the desired result. This teaches them that persistence and resilience are valuable traits.
• Introduce Growth Mindset Language: Use phrases that promote a growth mindset in your daily conversations. For instance, say things like, “Mistakes are a part of learning,” or “Every time you try, you’re getting closer to your goal.” This reinforces the idea that challenges are opportunities for growth.
• Model a Growth Mindset Yourself: Share your own experiences with setbacks and how you learned from them. By modelling a growth mindset, you encourage your child to embrace challenges and view them as opportunities for personal development.
• Help your child develop problem-solving skills by encouraging them to think critically about challenges they face. Ask guiding questions like, “What could you try next?” or “How can we approach this differently?” This not only empowers them to take action but also reinforces the idea that they have the ability to tackle difficulties.

Supporting your child’s mental health is an ongoing journey, and it’s important to remember that you are not alone. Implementing these strategies—embracing co-regulation, prioritising daily check-ins, and nurturing a growth mindset—can create a positive impact on your child’s emotional well-being.

At Happy Mojos, we’re dedicated to building happy minds and happy souls 💙. If you have any questions or need further support, please feel free to get in touch! Together, we can nurture the next generation’s emotional resilience and well-being.