FAMILY LIFE PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH Promoting Mental Health in Children Mental Health isn’t something we only need to talk about when there’s a problem or a crisis - it needs to be something we talk about as frequently as we discuss our physical health. We teach children to eat “healthy foods” for their physical wellness and growth, but what about their minds? Promoting mental clarity, peace and calm should be as much a focus of dinner table conversation as food. Begin with setting reasonable expectations. The daily recognition that all days have ups and downs - that’s a natural flow. A Yin and Yang, per se. There is hardly such a thing as a “perfect day” or a “bad day”. At Oak Learners, we take 15 minutes at the end of each school day to reflect with our students on some great things that happened that day and some things they would like to have gone better in the future. This realistic reflection and goal setting helps our students understand that they are in control of how they view their day and promotes resilience by recognizing that we can always find the “good” in every day and every situation. Listen. Acknowledge. Reflect. When things do go poorly and our children are feeling sad, discouraged, hurt, or self-blame, it’s important to take time to listen to and validate their feelings. It’s okay to feel these emotions, they are natural reactions. But the more important discussion comes with what to DO with these emotions and how we act on them. At Oak Learners, we demonstrate these choices by modelling appropriate “self-talk” and how to choose a coping strategy for dealing with the current situation. For example, many of us are dealing with
KELLY FARRELL
Director at Oak Learners; a private alternative school in Mimico located at 394 Royal York Rd. / 416-820-5233 www.oaklearners.ca
loneliness these days. A conversation with a crying child who misses their friends might go as follows: “Let’s talk. I can see you’re very upset/ discouraged/disappointed at not being able to see your friends right now. That’s a very natural reaction to this situation. It’s very hard to be away from people we love. Sometimes, I also feel sad and I miss my friends, too. When I feel that way, I like to <insert strategy>. What do you think might help you feel happier right now?” Connection and resilience come from seeing the people around us have healthy ways of processing and coping with difficult emotions. Don’t think you have to be a superhero in front of your child - show them your emotions and show them healthy ways of coping and moving forward. Promoting positive mental health is one of the greatest skills we can ever teach our children. To learn more about how Oak Learners promotes confidence and resilience in children, visit our website at www.oaklearners.ca.
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