Mental wellbeing tips for your children

1. Consider that it takes little steps in order to maintain a child’s mental health. It doesn’t require a lifestyle overhaul. It is no surprise that physical health is linked to mental health. Michael Grose shares on his parenting site that “taking care of your body is a powerful first step towards mental and emotional health.
   The mind and the body are linked. When you improve your physical health, you’ll
   automatically experience greater mental and emotional well-being.” If your
   child doesn’t play a sport they do not have to sacrifice exercise. Exercise
   could come in many forms from taking a walk to and from your favourite café to walking
   your dog.
2. The next step is getting plenty of rest. Most people need seven to eight hours of sleep each
   night in order to function optimally. Promoting sleep from a young age is advisable to set a good habit in place, and you might consider allowing children to have a rest after a full day of school before they rush off to any activity.
3. Another factor for mental wellbeing is good nutrition. “Thesubject of nutrition is complicated and not always easy to put into practice.
   But the more you learn about what you eat and how it affects your energy and mood, the better you can feel.” Good nutrition will always start at home for children. From packing lunch boxes to breakfast and dinner, parents have an influence on what their children eat to a large extent. A parent with a healthy outlook on nutrition will influence their child in the best possible way.

My Academy wishes you a happy and healthy Semester 2.

References

http://www.mentalhealth.wa.gov.au/mental_illness_and_health/mh_whatis.aspx

http://www.hpb.gov.sg/studenthealth/article.aspx?id=528

http://www.parentingideas.com.au/Blog/May-2011/Developing-good-mental-health-habits-in-kids

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/mental_emotional_health.htm