How to Teach Kids Healthy Habits for Mental WellBeing

Written by Pakhi Rewri | October 1, 2024

Introduction

Mental wellness is an optimum state of mind where a child feels confident, emotionally regulated, and motivated from within. Stable mental health can also pave the way for a healthy body. As per the WHO, a mentally healthy child can cope with stress and indulge in problem-solving. Such kids may also be significantly self-aware and good at communicating their feelings.

Parents can play an important role in teaching their kids good habits for mental wellness. Such practices can be incorporated into their everyday routines to enhance their quality of life and promote engagement in studies and extracurricular activities. These can be in the form of interactive activities, powerful discussions, and defining a child's responsibilities at home.

How to Teach Kids Healthy Habits for Mental Wellness

Teaching good habits related to mental health has to be a systematic process wherein both parents and the child have to stay dedicated to see results. These may carry forward into a child's adulthood and make them a fore focused and productive person. manages their time effectively. Here is a list of tips that can be helpful.

Set Goals

Setting goals early on can help kids build a structured plan to achieve their targets. Instead of having big goals such as meditating for one hour a day, one may start with taking small steps. This may include reading two pages of a storybook every day or exercising regularly. Once this is done, parents may help kids set bigger goals. As per ResearchGate, slow progress can be significant if it's sustained. Moreover it may help a child stay focused and keep learning.

Foster a Supportive Environment

Parents can act as an example for children by actively participating in mental health-related activities. Practicing yoga and meditation regularly may inspire your child to do the same. Moreover, parents may indulge in powerful conversations from time to time to educate kids about the importance of mental health. According to HPP, modeling behavior through positive conditioning may help a child develop sustained habits.

Encourage Independence

Entrusting children with making decisions may teach them how to manage their tasks. As per The Role of Parents in Forming Children's Independence, independent kids can become more secure and emotionally empowered individuals. Giving responsibility to kids may start from something as simple as letting them decide what they want to eat. Further, parents may let kids decide their timetable on a free day. It may also improve a child's decision-making.

Embrace Mistakes

Being open towards failures creates a sense of acceptance among parents and kids. It's critical to understand that not all plans are supposed to work out. Making mistakes can be a very normal part of the learning process. Parents can take these failures as an opportunity to teach important lessons to their kids. Criticism or using harsh words should never be an alternative. Parents may present constructive criticism without being too harsh yet conveying the message.

Develop Coping Skills

Your child might encounter stressful situations from time to time. This may require them to use creative thinking, stress management, and decision-making all at once. Walking kids through the process of brainstorming, breaking down problems, and building strategies may help them prepare for the future. As per NCBI, it may also teach them how to manage stress while also completing their tasks. The child may be able to multitask without feeling overwhelmed.

Set Sleep Time

Getting proper sleep is a requisite for a healthy mind as it enhances moods and stabilizes emotions. As per SLEEP, sleep may impact a child’s mental as well as physical growth. Lack of or poor sleep may lead to obesity, poor concentration, and even mood disorders. For school-going kids especially, eight hours of proper sleep is critical for relaxation and energy for the next day. It may also help a child get enough time to rest and rejuvenate to feel energetic the next day.

Provide a Healthy Diet

A healthy diet consists of all the necessary nutrients in the right proportion. As per nutrients, a balanced diet can play a crucial role in reducing the likelihood of mental health problems. The quality of food may impact a child's emotions, stress levels, and energy. Hence, feeding kids a diet with high fiber, vegetables, lean protein, and vitamins along with minerals can be exceptionally beneficial for them. Parents can also try cutting out processed sugar and excessive sodium as much as possible.

Conclusion

Good habits for mental wellness can be as simple and sustainable measures that improve one's everyday life. These small yet powerful changes may impact a child's life positively. By achieving these small targets regularly, kids may also become more self-aware. The child may be able to form better social relationships and enhance their awareness.