National Suicide Prevention Week: Talking to Kids About Emotional Health
This week is National Suicide Prevention Week, a pivotal time to turn our focus toward the emotional well-being of our kids. Acknowledging that they, too, grapple with real internal struggles is the first step. This guide steers you on nurturing age-appropriate, simple yet open conversations, facilitating a pathway for them to grow strong and joyous. Let's take steady steps in understanding and addressing mental health, encouraging kind dialogues, learning, and comfortable pacing for them.
A misty hill with a park bench and the backside of a young girl in a ponytail and pink sweater running towards the horizon. | 📷 Image by @noahsilliman
The Importance of Modeling Healthy Emotional Regulation
As parents and caretakers, we aim to model productive emotional regulation and coping skills for our children. But we know it can be very challenging when managing work, finances, health, or other circumstances.
Remember that small, consistent efforts to care for your emotional health can make a big difference. Do the best you can, given your unique situation.
Try these:
Try calming techniques like taking five deep breaths or squeezing a stress ball when feeling overwhelmed.
Verbally, walk through your feelings when possible. Self-reflection helps avoid taking emotions out on others. But be self-compassionate if unable consistently to do so.
Apologize if you make a mistake, but don't beat yourself up. Explain you're working on it and that progress takes time.
Find brief moments of respite through uplifting podcasts, books, and music. Short breaks keep you going.
Try not to compare yourself to idealized standards. Emotional regulation amidst real challenges takes immense strength. Celebrate your efforts.
Remember: progress over perfection. By modeling emotional health within your circumstances, you teach resilience and self-care. Your children see your strength.
The Current State of Mental Health Among Children and Adolescents
In recent times, we've seen that a significant number of children and teenagers are facing challenges with their mental health.
In the US alone, about 1 out of every five young individuals has faced a severe mental health issue at some point.
— CDC, source: https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/features/child-mental-health.html
These aren't just numbers but a call to action. It shows that having open chats about feelings and mental well-being with our kids is more important than ever. When we talk about it openly, we can understand what they are going through and help them find ways to feel better. Ignoring it isn't an option because it can lead to even more significant problems. So, let's consciously create a space where they can express their feelings without fear.
A young girl lost in contemplation with her hand slightly brushing her chin. | 📷 Image via Unsplash
Why Start Early: The Importance of Age-Appropriate Conversations
Starting these important early talks can set kids up for success. Just like we teach them to tie their shoes, we can guide them on handling their feelings — it's a life skill! Talking about emotions from a young age helps children understand themselves and others better. It builds a strong foundation where they can learn to be kind and understanding, not just with others but with themselves. You can make growing up a bit easier and give them the tools to face life's challenges more healthily. So, it's never too early to start these heart-to-heart chats; they can shape a happier, healthier future for our little ones.
A peaceful embrace with eyes closed between mother and child. | 📷 Image by @eyeforebony
Understanding Emotional Development Across Different Ages
In the vital task of nurturing emotionally healthy children, understanding the various milestones of emotional development that occur from toddlerhood to the teenage years is essential. Below, we map out these milestones, offering a blueprint for your conversations with each developmental stage:
Young girl in overalls with arms spread out like a gymnast. | 📷 Image by @kindredhues
Toddlers (1-3 years)
Children are beginning to identify and express basic emotions during this stage. They understand fundamental cause-and-effect relationships but still see the world from a self-centric viewpoint.
Recognizing emotions: Toddlers start recognizing basic emotions in themselves and others. Parents should name these emotions to aid in their recognition.
Emotional expression through behavior: At this age, behavior shows emotions. Understanding this can help in nurturing empathy and understanding in toddlers.
Young girl in a flamingo onesie making a growling face. | 📷 Image by @jrlawrence
Preschoolers (3-5 years)
As they age, preschoolers develop a more extensive emotional vocabulary and a basic understanding of more complex emotions such as fear, surprise, and anticipation.
Understanding complex emotions: Introduce them to more complex emotions through storytelling, encouraging them to express their feelings and why.
Empathy development: This is a great age to nurture empathy by encouraging them to understand and respond to the emotions of others.
Young smiling boy. | 📷 Image by @mosesvega
School-age children (6-12 years)
This age group has a deeper understanding of emotions, including a growing realization of the societal norms and expectations surrounding emotional expression.
Understanding societal norms: Start discussions about the various "rules" society sometimes imposes on emotional expression and encourage them to express themselves freely.
Critical thinking about emotions: Encourage them to think critically about how to express feelings.
Smiling teen with pig tails. | 📷 Image via Unsplash
Teenagers (13-18 years)
During the teenage years, individuals are crafting their identity and capable of deep introspective thoughts and abstract concepts, including a deep understanding of emotional dynamics.
Self-awareness and introspection: Encourage teenagers to explore their feelings deeply, facilitating conversations that foster self-awareness and personal growth.
Navigating complex emotional landscapes: Teenagers face a myriad of challenges. Offer them tools and strategies to navigate complex emotions successfully, encouraging resilience and emotional intelligence.
How to Approach the Conversation at Various Ages
Toddler mouthing with a squished face. | 📷 Image by @jentheodore
Toddlers and Preschoolers
During the toddler and preschool years, we will explore the necessity for simplicity and relatability in conversations, accompanied by some recommended conversation starters and topics:
Balancing Simplicity and Depth in Early Conversations
In the early years, while children can absorb complex concepts, they are often most comfortable with simple and relatable expressions. Balancing simplicity with depth can be the key:
Mindful language choice: Though young children have the potential to grasp intricate ideas, using familiar and straightforward language can sometimes facilitate better understanding and camaraderie with peers. For instance, they start with terms like "happy" or "sad" before gradually introducing them to a richer emotional vocabulary.
Visual aids and body language: Incorporating visual aids, facial expressions, and gestures can be a powerful tool in helping them visualize and relate to different emotions. A drawn sad face, paired with a conversation about a time they were upset, can be a tangible way for them to connect experiences with emotions."
Mother holds baby in front while kissing their cheek. | 📷 Image by @plhnk
Suggested Conversation Starters and Topics
As you foster your child's emotional intelligence, initiating conversations according to their developmental stage is vital. Below are conversation starters and topics that can kindle understanding and awareness of emotions:
Identifying emotions in others: While reading a book or watching a TV show, pause to ask how a character might be feeling, encouraging them to observe facial expressions and body language.
Daily check-ins: Create a routine of daily emotional check-ins, asking them how they are feeling and encouraging them to express themselves through words or art.
Emotional Storytelling: Encourage them to develop stories centered around different emotions, fostering a rich emotional vocabulary.
Play-based learning: Use playtime as a fertile ground for learning. Engage kids in role-playing activities where they can express different emotions and learn to identify them in others.
By prioritizing simplicity and relatability, you create a safe and nurturing environment for toddlers and preschoolers to begin understanding and expressing their emotions, setting a solid foundation for emotional health as they grow.
A boy looking to the side and a girl with necklace in mouth. | 📷 Image by @bailstorres
School-age children (6-12)
As children grow and their world expands to include school and friendships, they encounter a more prosperous and more diverse array of experiences and feelings. This age group is at a point where they can grasp more complex emotional concepts compared to toddlers. They are developing a sense of empathy and can understand perspectives other than their own. Here's how we can navigate discussions about emotional health with school-aged children:
Introducing More Complex Topics but Still Keeping it Age-Appropriate
At this stage, children are more aware and can understand more nuanced emotions but still benefit immensely from conversations kept straightforward and relatable. It's a balancing act where we introduce them to a more advanced understanding of emotions while retaining a level of simplicity:
Storytelling: Engage children through stories that depict characters experiencing various emotions. Discuss these narratives and encourage them to articulate the characters' feelings and why.
Scenario discussions: You can discuss hypothetical scenarios or situations from their own experiences, helping them to identify and articulate feelings and to understand that it's okay to have mixed feelings about a situation.
Visual aids: Even though they are growing up, visual aids such as charts with different facial expressions can still be a very effective tool at this stage to help identify and articulate complex emotions.
Mother reading to child. | 📷 Image by @awcreativeut
Discussing the Importance of Emotional Well-Being
Understanding the concept of emotional well-being is crucial at this age. Kids should learn not just to identify emotions but also how to manage them positively:
Self-care and relaxation: Teach them simple relaxation techniques, like deep breathing, to handle anxiety or stress. Encourage habits like drawing, writing, or physical activity to express themselves.
Positive reinforcement: Encourage them to speak about their feelings openly and always appreciate their efforts in understanding and managing their emotions, fostering a positive approach to emotional well-being.
Developing resilience: Help them understand that it's okay to experience negative emotions and that what is essential is learning how to bounce back from adverse situations.
By working with them through complex emotional topics and discussions on the necessity of maintaining emotional well-being, you set them on a path of self-awareness and healthy emotional development, ensuring that they feel ready to handle the pressures of the world with a balanced, healthy outlook on their emotional world.
Moody teen with turquoise-red gradient hair and a rainbow sweater. | 📷 Image by @sharonmccutcheon
Teenagers
The teenage years are a transformative period marked by a whirlpool of emotions as young individuals navigate a complex world, seeking identity and independence. This stage demands sensitive handling and open dialogue, encompassing the deeper trenches of emotional health and well-being, including discussions on depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention.
Engaging in Open Dialogues about Emotional Health and Well-Being
Building a trustworthy space where teenagers can express themselves without fear of judgment is paramount:
Active Listening: Encourage them to share their feelings and experiences. Be an active listener, giving them undivided attention and validating their feelings without any immediate judgment or advice.
Respect their Privacy: It is essential to respect their privacy while letting them know you support them whenever they're ready to talk.
Daily Check-ins: Regular casual check-ins can keep the lines of communication open. It could be during a car ride or a walk where you casually ask about their day, fostering a comfortable space for them to open up if they wish to.
Validating Teen Feelings while Guiding Healthy Expression
The intense emotions of the adolescent years need sensitive handling. It is essential to validate teenagers' feelings while coaching them to express themselves constructively.
Strategies include:
Listen without judgment and acknowledge the legitimacy of their emotions. Statements like "I understand why you feel so frustrated" can help teens feel heard.
After validating their feelings, discuss more positive ways to convey them. For example, instead of yelling, take some time alone to calm down before discussing what is bothering them.
Remind them that all emotions are normal, but unhealthy expressions can damage relationships. Anger might be valid, but name-calling or violence crosses the line.
Appreciate when teenagers demonstrate good emotional regulation. Positive reinforcement encourages these behaviors.
Aerial close-up of teen daughter and mother lying down in opposite directions while facing the other. | 📷 Image by @bencehalmosi
With validation and guidance, parents can bolster teens' emotional health while fostering communication and connection during this critical developmental phase.
Addressing More Complicated Issues such as Depression, Anxiety, and Suicide Prevention
As teenagers face intense pressure, both from their immediate environment and the virtual world, it is crucial to address more grave concerns head-on, albeit sensitively:
Educational Conversations: Provide them with accurate information about mental health issues like depression and anxiety, breaking down myths and fostering an understanding environment.
Safe Spaces for Dialogue: Foster a safe space where even the most complicated topics like suicide are not taboo but discussed with gravity, understanding, and empathy, emphasizing the importance of reaching out and getting professional help if feeling extremely low and hopeless.
Crisis Plans: Equip them with the knowledge and resources to help themselves or a friend in crisis, including emergency helplines and guidance on when to involve an adult in serious situations.
Child and father fist bump. | 📷 Image by @markusspiske
By nurturing open dialogues and addressing complex issues directly, you give teenagers the framework to navigate their tumultuous emotional landscape safely and healthily, reinforcing that they are not alone and that seeking help is both brave and necessary.
Age-Appropriate Tools and Resources
In an era where technology and multimedia have become dominant forces in our children's lives, integrating books, videos, apps, and other resources can be a cornerstone in fostering emotional health. It becomes a multifaceted endeavor where age-appropriate tools are vital in guiding children to understand and manage their emotions. Let's delve into the various materials for different age groups and how parents can use them to nurture a healthy emotional environment.
Books
Toddlers and Preschoolers:
"The Feelings Book" by Todd Parr employs simple language and vibrant illustrations to explore various emotions, helping young children articulate their feelings.
"In My Heart: A Book of Feelings" by Jo Witek offers a fun and interactive way to explore different emotions with your child through a series of symbolic associations.
School-Age Children (6-12):
"The Great Big Book of Feelings" by Mary Hoffman helps children identify and understand different emotions they and others experience, using relatable situations and diverse characters.
"What to Do When You Worry Too Much" by Dawn Huebner: This interactive book offers children tools to overcome anxiety through simple activities and exercises.
Teenagers:
"Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety" by Christopher Willard: This book is an excellent resource offering practical exercises to help teens deal with anxiety.
Videos
All Ages:
Sesame Street Videos: For younger kids, Sesame Street offers a range of videos that tackle emotional intelligence, offering a springboard for further discussion.
TED-Ed: For older children and teens, TED-Ed offers engaging animated lessons exploring complex emotions and psychological principles.
Apps
All Ages:
Headspace: This app offers age-appropriate mindfulness activities and meditations, assisting children in managing their emotions. I’ve got a guest pass for you! Try Headspace free for 30 days.
How We Feel: Suitable for older children and teens. How We Feel is a free journal created by scientists, designers, engineers, and psychologists for your well-being. Over time, you will learn precise words to describe how you feel, spot trends and patterns, and practice simple strategies to regulate your emotions healthily.
Family of three watch resources on laptop. | 📷 Image via Unsplash
Engaging through Materials
It is essential that parents actively engage with children through these materials, creating a nurturing space for open dialogue:
Discussion: After reading a book or watching a video, foster a discussion where children can express their interpretations and feelings.
Reflective Questions: Ask thoughtful questions that encourage children to think deeper and articulate their feelings more clearly.
Real-life Connections: Help them connect with real-life situations, encouraging them to employ the emotional understanding gained through these resources in their day-to-day experiences.
Role of PLAY WITH KIP
Navigating the complex landscape of emotional health with children demands sensitivity and creativity. "PLAY WITH KIP" aims to make a considerable mark. Although in its nascent stage, the platform is bubbling with the potential to be a go-to resource in aiding vital conversations during National Suicide Prevention Week and beyond.
Girl watching PLAY WITH KIP on Youtube. | 📷 Image by @apsprudente
Upcoming YouTube Show
The forthcoming YouTube show aims to introduce children to the nuances of emotional health through an engaging medium. The planning stage is marked with meticulous work to ensure the series encapsulates the following:
Interactive Segments: Aims to hold a series of interactive episodes. The show offers children a safe space to explore and express varied emotions through guided play and activities, setting a joyful learning ground.
KIP holding up a proof of “Soda the Shrimp”. | 📷 Image by PLAY WITH KIP LLC.
Picture Books Under Development
Parallelly, there is enthusiastic work underway in developing picture books that resonate with young minds:
Engaging Storylines: The focus is crafting storylines that can facilitate a deeper understanding of emotional landscapes through relatable narratives.
Illustrative Narratives: The picture books aspire to employ vibrant illustrations to convey emotional nuances visually, aiding children in articulating their emotions with greater ease.
Mother holding up smiling baby. | 📷 Image by @nextfnlevel
Engagement with PLAY WITH KIP
As "PLAY WITH KIP" is at a crucial developmental phase, here is how parents and educators can tune in:
Staying Updated: Subscribing to newsletters would offer a peek into the evolving journey of "PLAY WITH KIP," keeping parents informed about the latest developments.
Community Insights: The platform intends to build a community where shared experiences can foster learning and mutual growth.
Conclusion:
As National Suicide Prevention Week continues, it's essential to highlight the critical role that open conversations about emotional health can play in our children's lives. More than a week to observe; it's a call to action for every parent to start vital and potentially lifesaving discussions with their young ones. Let's create safe spaces where our kids can express their feelings freely and without fear. Simple, honest dialogues can build a strong foundation of trust and understanding, shaping a nurturing environment where mental well-being is a priority. It starts with a simple yet profound step – a conversation grounded in love and respect. Let's guide them with love and show them their feelings are valid and vital.
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