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Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month is held in May and celebrates the importance of positive mental well-being for children. Since 2006, May has been a time to acknowledge the importance of children's mental health and to show that positive mental health is essential to a child's healthy development from birth.
Sesame Street in Communities is a valuable resource for families on many subjects, including emotional well-being. The resources embrace their philosophy that the presence and support of a caring adult is the most important factor in the life of a child experiencing emotional distress. Check out this page for videos, articles, and handouts for families wanting to explore the topic of emotional well-being.
The Child Mind Institute from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University has five videos based on mental health research, plus downloadable print materials that parents can use to help children practice the skills they’re learning. The videos teach kids five skills proven to support mental health, including understanding feelings, using your words, having big feelings, being brave, and being a good friend.
Conscious Discipline is a comprehensive approach that empowers parents with skills that create a safe, connected, problem-solving environment for families. Check out their resources for families on handling upset and conflict,
as well as their helpful tip sheets on temper tantrums, challenging behaviors, difficult situations, and more. https://consciousdiscipline.com/free-resources/discipline-tips/
Mind in the Making
This is a great resource that turns challenging moments into skill-building opportunities. By using questions parents most frequently ask each other, their families, and the professionals in their lives, they have created one-page guides for parents and professionals to help them turn common behavioral issues into opportunities to promote life skills in children.
If you want more ideas to interact with your little ones, check out Vroom! Vroom is a free app that you can download on your phone that provides activities aimed at children five and under. Once you put in your child’s age, you will have access to different activities that will grow with them as they age! Example:
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