UNICEF’s Post

👧🏼 Play is how young children learn and make sense of the world around them. Play helps to strengthen the bond between you and your child. Children who play regularly with their parents are less likely to develop anxiety, depression, aggression and sleep problems. #play #learning #bonding #parent #child #unicef https://uni.cf/45vAkS9

In light of it being Children's Mental Health week, here's the biggest thing you can do to support your child's mental health. Why? 1. When you prioritise your mental well being, you act as the best emotional role model to your kids. 2. You'll be able to communicate more effectively, openly and empathetically with your children and everyone around you which means you're more likely meet your child's emotional needs 3. Your emotional stability will continue to strengthen a secure attachment 4. When you heal yourself, you'll be promoting such a resilience in your kids to deal with challenges in life 5. You'll manage stresses in your home environment (you know what I'm talking about!) Emotional intelligence is without doubt, the most powerful skill I have ever encountered and empowers my teaching, parenting and all my relationships. If you are ready to develop your EI because you want to impact your child's mental health in a positive way, reach out and I will offer a free powerful conversation in ways to support you xxxxx

A well written and informative article on how parents need to address the mental wellness of their children. It puts the focus on parents - that parents need to know more about mental health, be able to detect mental health problems their children are facing, and to take appropriate action. But how can this happen when parents do not get on with each other, when parents do not operate from the same page when addressing their children’s problems and challenges, and when parents lack the work-life balance / harmony to bond with each other and with their children and create a healthy environment that gives rise to a healthy and happy family? It all starts from the top - the health of the relationship between Mom and Dad.

The Power of Play: Enhancing Your Child's Mental Health Playtime is more than just fun; it's essential for your child's mental well-being. Here are four key benefits: 1. Strengthening Bonds: Regular play sessions build a stronger connection between you and your child, fostering trust and understanding. 2. Emotional Processing: Play helps children process and manage challenging emotions, making it easier for them to handle tough situations. 3. Stress Relief: Play is an effective way to alleviate stress, helping your child stay calm and happy. 4. Confidence Building: Through play, children gain confidence by trying new things and developing their abilities. Learn more about the role of play in mental health here: https://lnkd.in/gjRurkyc #sisonsoflife #Parenting #ChildMentalHealth #Playtime #UNICEF

Beautiful. Feelings of shame usually develop in early life, as a response to painful criticism, rejection, abuse and neglect, causing insecurities, feelings of worthlessness and limiting self beliefs. It can prove very damaging to mental health and holistic wellbeing in the long-term. How do you create and maintain a safe space for the children and adults you work with, in order to help them overcome feelings of shame? IHow do you create a safe space for yourself?

Often, children’s mental health problems are unintentionally brushed under the rug by adults. They’re told to not get angry, cause a scene or behave overly happy, upset or frustrated in public. They aren’t given any education in how to understand and manage their thoughts and feelings, which means it’s very easy for them to feel like having and expressing emotions is shameful and not wanted....................... This months blog discusses this more here - https://lnkd.in/eGpzZPPS #mentalhealthmatters #childrensmentalhealth #teensupport

2024 study shows playing Dungeons and Dragons has profoundly postive impact on mental health. A small cohort of D & D players were surveyed and monitored during eight weeks of play showing some very promising results. “Participants demonstrated significant decreases in depression, stress, and anxiety and significant increases in self-esteem and self-efficacy over the study period”. After an inital popularity in the ‘80s, these games were only enjoyed by pure enthusiasts until experiencing a massive resurgence during Covid. I believe studies such as this are showing why with a solid mix of distraction, agency, positive feedback loops and socialization, D&D (and similar RPGs) provides a meaningful and lasting boost to mental health. #dungeonsanddragons #dandd #mentalhealth #powerofplay Article & Study Link: https://lnkd.in/geEMcW7K

so very true. safe spaces matter

" Shame dies when stories are shared in safe spaces." Every individual shares a different understanding about 'Safe spaces'. Safe space doesn't only mean physically safe but feeling emotionally and socially safe as well. A safe place can be a corner of your house / your bed/ a person / place etc. It is all about having someone / something / place where you can pen down your thoughts or express your emotions without any hesitation. Researchers have claimed that safe spaces can impact your physical and mental health positively. Creating a safe space for children is one of the building stones of developing a positive mental health among children . Some tips for parents to understand how to create a safe space for children - 1) Start with teaching them feelings. Use different emojis or cartoon characters ( whom the child can resonate well with ) to teach different feelings / emotions, a human being expresses. 2) Share your feelings with your child regularly. You don't have to express everything in detail but a general conversation on how your day / Why do you feel upset / happiness can be discussed with children. 3) Create safe spaces for children - When your child expresses distressing feelings , ask them what they would like to do ?? ( Eg - Would they like to talk to someone / eat a favour snack/ or color anything ) Then ask them how do they feel . Given the above choice will not only help children understand safe space but also develop decision making skills. I have used the above strategies with many children and parents and they have worked pretty well with them ! I would like to know more from parents / professionals on their ideas / beliefs in creating a safe space for children!

Good morning, it's February, and Happy Friday Eve!! This year, building healthy relationships is one of my goals. Long lasting friendships, family, and all different kinds of relationships. There are three words to live by when it comes to relationships: 1. Honesty 2. Respect 3. Loyalty Honesty is listed first because that builds the foundation in every and any relationship. With honesty, then comes respect for one another, the trust has been gained, and then their is loyalty. Loyalty maintains the relationship. Although it seems that relationships are not like they once were due to social media being at a high peak statistically, we can still balance it out by socializing outdoors, finding new places to spend time to meet new people, actually getting out into the world, taking risks. Take baby steps and have the courage to get out of your comfort zone. Stop hiding behind social media and embrace reality. Have a great day! #positivemindset #positivechanges #selfawareness #socialengagement #positiveattitude #positivelife