By Jean Barbre, Ed.D. & Ingrid Anderson, Ed.D.

Strategies to support children’s mental health and wellbeing

The emotional lives of young children are growing increasingly more complex. There is rising interest in understanding early mental health and wellbeing and how early childcare providers can support children birth to age five who have complex behaviors. Supporting Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing incorporates strength-based child care strategies to foster positive reciprocal relationships between caregiver and young children and strengthen children’s resiliency and wellbeing.

Strategies include identifying our spheres of influence in building on children’s mental health; identifying protective factors; promoting healthy attachment; and scaffolding social and emotional development in early childhood programs within the context of family relationships and culture.

Supporting Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing covers:

• Exploring the foundations of mental health and wellbeing in the first five years

• Examining the stages of typical social-emotional development

• Identifying concerning behaviors in early childhood setting

• Understanding influences on brain development

• Categorizing risk and resiliency factors in the first five years of life

• Supporting children who have experienced trauma or traumatic events

• Creating strength-based approaches to working with families

• Building a toolkit of strength-based strategies and resources