Mental Health is Important at Every Stage of Life.

 

             

              Mental Health is Important at Every Stage of Life.

                Create –Practice & Radiate Positivity to Kids.

                      

From the moment the human child is first conceived, to the day the individual dies, they keep changing constantly and developing. Development is defined as progression towards maturity. Children even grow socially and emotionally with their physical and cognitive growth. They learn how to interact, play, work, and live with other people such as family, friends, teachers and employers. They learn how to understand both their own feelings and that of others. In order to function well as independent adults, children must develop a sense of self-esteem. They develop a sense of morality as they learn the difference between right and wrong.

As an Occupational Therapist I come across many children with stubborn, adamant or aggressive behaviour. Children can be Rude, Destructive, Cranky, Irritated, Unusually Quiet, Sad, Confused, and/ or Scared….

One of the reasons could be some underlying emotional imbalance and probably being low on self-esteem.

Self Esteem is how much kids value themselves and their belief on how important they are in this world. Developing positive self-esteem is important for all kids. But it can be harder for kids with learning and thinking differences. That’s because self-esteem is tied to how capable kids feel. Kids with learning and thinking differences often have to work harder to make progress in school. They may struggle socially, too.

Self Esteem has been the topic of discussion for most psychologists. Maslow’s theory has beautifully explained that for one to achieve self - actualisation and growth, their need for inner-respect and esteem from others must be met.

You can help your child develop positive self-esteem by praising her efforts and helping her recognize and use her strengths. Here are specific ways to help your child do that.

1. Open up a dialogue and be a role model.

Talk to your child not only about her learning and thinking differences, but also about things you find challenging and have to work to overcome. It’s good for your child to hear you talk about how you value your own strengths, while also acknowledging your weaknesses.

2. Provide clear, but not critical feedback.

It can be hard to talk to kids about the things they need to get better at. Positive self-esteem comes from working hard towards a goal. So, rather than criticize, try offering your child a specific goal to work towards.

3. Help foster a growth mind set.

Help your child reframe negative thoughts and statements. For example, your child might say, “I can’t read that. It’s too hard because I have dyslexia.” You can respond by saying, “Yes, I understand that reading is hard for you, and you can’t read that book yet. So, let’s formulate a plan to get better at it.”

4. Teach that mistakes are learning experiences.

Part of having a growth mind set is acknowledging that mistakes are learning opportunities. When your child knows that it's OK to fail  and there are solutions to mistakes, it can help build self-esteem...”

5. Praise your child’s approach and efforts—not just the end result.

It’s important to praise your child, but how you praise your child matters too. Rather than just focusing on the end result, praise your child on the process. By acknowledging the approach kids take to tackling challenges, you help them learn that they are capable of overcoming obstacles. Specific, honest praise is key to building positive self-esteem.

6. Encourage extracurricular interests.

Finding an extracurricular activity they enjoy and are good at can help kids discover their strengths and keep academic struggles in perspective.

7.  Read and Discuss success stories of people who have achieved in spite of limitations

Knowing there are successful people, including athletes, celebrities and entrepreneures with learning and thinking differences, who faced similar struggles, can also be a source of inspiration.

Building self-esteem is crucial. When we learn to love ourselves, we strive for a better life—a happier relationship, a more fulfilling career. But changing the deep-rooted feelings we have about ourselves isn't easy and often experts recommend some form of therapy, usually Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to get to the underlying reasons behind our negative thoughts about ourselves.

Studies have shown a significant correlation between the self-esteem, family relationship, and social support and adolescent mental health. Therefore, being supportive but realistic is key to helping children develop positive self-esteem and taking care of mental health.

“Children don’t say, ‘I had a hard day. Can we talk?’ 

They say, ‘Will you play with me?’”

By

Dr. Mona Shah

Occupational Therapist, Clinical Psychologist