Guest post written by Cora Gold of Revivalist

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If you notice your child acting up or retreating into their shell more often, it could be a sign that
they could use more mental health support. Whether they are experiencing challenges at home
or in school, you can be a positive role model. Encouraging mental wellness starts with
practicing the right habits yourself to benefit both you and your child.

1. Assess Your Family Environment

Every family has its ups and downs. Pressurized work situations can cause stress and fatigue,
making you short-tempered and reactive with your child instead of patient. Besides work-related
stress, other family dynamics can cause anxiety, depression and behavioral problems in
children. Some of these stressors include:

● Friction that causes parental shouting and fighting
● Overcritical reactions from parents
● New family members in a household
● Child personality differences and sibling rivalry issues
● Unemployment or financial problems

Once you know the source of a problem, attempt to change it. You can bring more positive
energy into your home by becoming a role model for your child.

2. Enact Change

Many domestic situations require more than your positive attitude to change. In those instances,
consider speaking to a licensed therapist as a family unit or with your partner. Participating in
counseling destigmatizes seeking support from mental health professionals and can go a long
way in showing your child it’s OK to do the same — now or later in life.
How you behave, react and communicate with your child can all enact change, and your kid will
begin to appreciate your proactive presence and confide in you more. Your child’s mental health
may improve with more positive reactions to their actions and efforts.

3. Be Consistent With Rules

When setting rules for your child, follow them yourself. If you teach your kid to be respectful of
others and answer questions honestly, make sure you don’t shout, swear or get caught in a lie.

If you expect certain behaviors from your child, show them the same behavior — if you don’t,
they’ll likely mimic your actions instead of doing what you tell them.

4. Observe and Help Your Child at Play

With younger children, observing their emotions and responses through imaginative play gives
you an idea of how they view real-life situations. You can identify potential problem areas by
how their Teddy responds to something their Bunny says, for example. This type of play allows
your child to express their feelings by using toys to act out real situations. Use the same toys to
act out similar scenarios but show more positive emotional responses.

Likewise, observing a teenager playing sports or video games can identify areas of frustration or
pent-up anger. Seeing their aggressive or negative reactions means you can find ways to
change your teen’s mindset through positive reinforcement and support. All you need to do is
pay some attention.

5. Lose the Negative Speech and Raised Voice

It’s easy to shout or say things without thinking first. However, negative comments to your child
can affect their mental state. Youngsters can internalize those comments, which could cause
their self-esteem to drop and make them believe  that you don’t love them anymore.

Speaking calmly and helping your child learn when they make a mistake instead of shouting
encourages positive action and thought. Tone and voice level are as important as what you say.
If you speak calmly, you can put your child’s mind at ease, but angrily shouting can have a
lasting effect.

6. Truly Listen to Your Child

Speaking positively with the right tone is part of building your child’s mental confidence, and
listening properly to them is another. When your child talks to you, stop what you’re doing and
give them your full attention. Relax your facial expression and move your body closer. Respond
to their statements with confirmation before asking questions: “You said . . . ” followed by, “Did I
get that right?” gives your kid confidence they’re being heard and can continue sharing.
Show empathy for what your child is going through, and relate with the emotions they’re trying
to express. Be curious by asking pertinent questions that encourage them to think. Finally, offer
suggestions that might solve the problems they’re experiencing. You will earn your child’s
respect.

Mental Wellness Parenting

It’s easy to get home from a hard day at the office and be technically present while still
essentially being absent. Becoming integral to your child’s life means giving them your unerring

support and showing continual dedication. Your child will learn to be more like you — positive
and motivated.

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