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Lots of children struggle with their mental health, but it’s often difficult for parents to spot the signs as they are often less obvious than with physical conditions. With this in mind, it’s important for parents to look for ways to support their child’s emotional wellbeing. Here are some tips from an independent college in London.
Promote Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Ensure your child is getting enough sleep, eating a nutritious, balanced diet, and exercising. As well as supporting their physical health, positive lifestyle choices will also benefit your child mentally. Exercise, for instance, promotes the release of feel-good hormones that can tackle things like stress and anxiety.
Show an Interest
Try and get involved in your child’s life and show an interest in their hobbies, likes and dislikes. Take them seriously when they express their ideas and opinions to you. Not only will this help them to feel validated, which will boost their self-esteem, it will also put you in a better position to spot any signs of emotional turmoil. Furthermore, it will strengthen your relationship, which may encourage your child to open up to you more readily if they are struggling with something.
Encourage Mindfulness
Mindfulness exercises are great for helping your child focus on the present moment, which can help them feel more grateful but can also reduce anxiety and stress. Take a mindful walk and ask them to share with you some of the things they can see, hear, smell, taste, and feel, as this will allow them to engage in their senses and draw their thoughts away from things that might be troubling them.
Communicate with Teachers
Your child’s teachers spend a great deal of time with your child and may know more about what’s going on in their life than you do. For instance, your child might have fallen out with their friends or they might be struggling in class. By maintaining a connection with the teachers you can discuss these types of problems so that you are in a better position to help your child.
