Mental Health in our little ones: Providing the support your child needs

We can all agree to the fact that these last two years have been difficult to manage and left little room for structure and certainty. These are key elements that our youth and littles rely on to shape and structure their lives. How these changes show up in the lives, thoughts and behaviors of our kids can look different based on their ages.

Younger children may express themselves in unique ways such as: being frequently irritable and throw tantrums , often speak of fears and worries, can't sit still unless stimulated visually, have frequent nightmares and/or sleep a lot, are sleepy during the day, are not interested in mingling with other children or have difficulty making friends, and /or struggle academically. Sometimes their concerns can even have physical manifestations such as stomach aches or headaches.

            Older children and adolescents showcase struggling academically, have low energy, no longer have interest in something the used to enjoy, are isolating themselves, even from friends and family, engage in self-harm, reduced eating, or have an interest in substance use.

So in the face of these difficulties what can be you do to support your child? Here are a few ideas

Try a Gratitude Practice

Try to start and end each day with this opportunity to reflect and identify the key things things that you and your child are grateful for. This activity can be done verbally or written done.
these gratitude statements will look (and should) different for every for each person & should be appreciated without judgement.

Bedtime/Wine down Rituals

Having a routine that you do with your little one each night, no matter how small, can make a big difference and provide that sense of consistency they may be craving! This can look like reading a book of their choice, a night time dance party, blowing bubbles, really any thing can work as long as you do it together and you do it consistently, so have fun with it

Create something Meaningful

Maybe its planting a flower and watching it grow or creating a meal for the family to enjoy, anything that allows a creative expression of self. It’s amazing to see something you create have positive impact. It can also give them a nice boost of confidence!

            There are multiple qualified medical professionals at Oregon Pediatrics that offer these types of evaluations and treatment, if needed. They will ensure that all of your questions are answered.