In childhood, healthy growth is not only marked by physical changes but also accompanied by mental development. Both physical and mental health are needed by children to live the lives of adolescents to adulthood. However, children’s mental health issues needs tend to be difficult to understand and are very likely to be missed by parents in caring for children. You can even involve the Littleton mental health professional to ensure that your loved children will not have any mental health issues.
Why is it important to maintain a child’s mental health?
Children’s mental health is not only interpreted as the mental condition of children who do not experience mental illness but also includes the ability to think clearly, control emotions, and socialize with their age. Children who have good mental health will have a number of positive characters, such as being able to adapt to circumstances, face stress, maintain good relations and rise from difficult conditions. Conversely, poor mental health in childhood can cause more serious behavioral disorders due to mental and emotional imbalances, and the social life of children who are not good.
What needs to be done in maintaining a child’s mental health
Optimal mental development of children must begin with a good mental health condition. Here are some things parents can do to maintain a child’s mental health:
1. Allowing children to play
For children, playing time is just a time for fun, when in fact this time is also when children learn things. When playing, children are also helped to be creative, learn how to solve problems, and how to control themselves. Actively moving while playing also helps children become physically and mentally healthy.
2. Encourage children to socialize
Besides playing with parents, children also need to interact with their age. Playing with peers will help children recognize weaknesses and strengths in themselves, and learn to live side by side with others. Finding a child’s playmate can be done by taking the child to visit the neighborhood, recreation area, or enroll a child in school.
3. Teach children to enjoy the process
Teach children to understand that winning or achieving goals is not everything, and enjoying the process is the most important thing in doing something. When a child joins a match or plays a sports game, try asking the child’s feelings when he plays rather than asking if he won the game. Always demanding a child to win can trigger fear of defeat, or concern in trying new things, and this can frustrate the child.
