Raising a mentally healthy child.

When a child has fever, we give them medicine. When a child learns to swim, we give them floaters. We do everything to keep them healthy and safe. But what about their brain? How do we keep them mentally healthy?

1. Normalize mental health- If your child has breathing issues or cries a lot, don't shut them down or call them a “cry baby”. Allow them to vent, and then have an open conversation with them to understand how they are feeling. Try sharing a situation where you felt anxious. This will help create a safe space.

2. Movement- Our mind and body are linked. Dancing and yoga help to calm the mind. Exercise and physical activity release happy hormones which makes the child feel good.

3. Art- Colours have a language of their own. Give your child crayons, paint, and paper. Let them draw and express themselves in whichever way they want. It’s okay if it gets messy. Ask them about why they chose a certain color and how it makes them feel. There are plenty of art therapy websites too.

4. Storytelling- Tell them stories about emotions. How it's okay to feel sad, angry, and confused. There are plenty of books available online.

5. Self-esteem- A very important step towards raising a mentally healthy child is to help them love themselves. Which is to make them aware of who they are, help them recognize it, and compliment them for the same. Read this article to understand more about how to boost self-esteem.

6. Don't dismiss it- When a child gets hurt, we often divert the child's mind so that they don't feel the pain. What we don't realize is that is it still present in their subconscious mind. Help them talk about it in a logical way. See this image for an example.

7. Use checklists- Often time parents and children cannot understand when a child is feeling anxious. Use this checklist to understand and regulate these emotions.

8. Therapy- Seeking professional help is always a good idea. Think of it as a gym for the mind. We go to a doctor for minor physical injuries. Similarly, the mind also needs to be taken care of.

Remember, you can always have these conversations with your child. They are never too young or old to talk about this. Let them know you are always there to listen and understand how they feel. After all, raising mentally healthy children is the key to raising mentally healthy adults.