Tips every parent should know to take care of children’s mental health

Our children are the future therefore, taking care of their mental health is very crucial since it is the basis of their general well-being, success in school and maintaining healthy relationships. This would help them thrive and make the most out of their potential.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Jeena Girilal, Psychologist and Founder of Mindgrafts, shared a list of pointers to take care of children’s mental health –
Adding to the list of tips, Grace Riyas, Whole Brain Development Expert and Founder of Genius Nurturer, recommended –
Welcome all feelings, create awareness – talk/ read about different feelings, encourage healthy expression of feelings – words, art etc.
Listen actively without judging. Share your own vulnerabilities and wins to gain trust and openness.
Celebrate strengths, provide specific encouragement focused on efforts and skills rather than general praise/outcomes, use positive affirmations to reinforce your child’s worth.
Quality and quantity matters. Replace random binge-watching with mindful high-quality content that promotes learning. (Too much (random) screen leads to lack of social interaction, decreased physical activities, reduced attention span, causes desensitisation etc).
Monkey see, monkey do. Model healthy ways to cope with stress and emotions – mindfulness, deep breathing etc.