LITTLE FLWERS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

As a parent, you play a huge role in supporting your child’s mental well-being. Nurturing and loving care build a strong foundation, helping your child to develop the social and emotional skills they need to lead a happy, healthy and fulfilled life.   

Participation of parents

Parental and guardian participation in school-sponsored activities to raise mental health awareness should be encouraged. It can involve organising seminars or meetings between teachers and parents to discuss themes related to mental health, sharing resources and information, and fostering open communication between the home and the institution that the student attends.

Tips:

1. Make sure you’ve got good social support around you. Try to have some alone time, so you can have some space for yourself.
2. Your child wants to be liked and accepted by people around them. Being accepted by you is the first step toward building confidence.
3. Be mindful of the examples you set. Your child looks to you and picks up on your emotions and how you respond to different situations.

4.   Listen: Actively try to listen to what they are saying without letting your thoughts and judgement guide the conversation. Respect and encourage your child’s opinion.

Acknowledge: Assure them that you understand their thoughts and feelings, encourage them to be open with you and reassure that you are there for them. Remind them that you were this age once too and remember experiencing the same feelings.

Offer solutions: Ask them if they have thought about what might need to change – “What do you think should be done?” If they haven’t, offer to listen and talk it through with them. Support them with what they need to feel better.

5.   Remember: Patience and consistency are key. (Your child might be expressing less affection towards you and sometimes seem rude or short-tempered.)

6. Any form of violence, including shouting and hitting. When a child lives in a negative environment it can cause “toxic stress” – harming the child’s growth and development – as well as long term problems in later life.

For GEN Z’s: our future nation

Mental health education for students is indeed as important as academic education. Students who receive adequate support and resources to nurture their mental well – being are more likely to excel academically. By addressing mental health concerns at an early stage, schools equip students with essential life skills such as resilience, empathy and effective stress management. Students who are aware of mental health issues have a better issue have a better understanding and ability to control their feelings. It helps children identify and articulate their feelings, which contributes to developing their emotional intelligence.

Tips

 Start Valuing Yourself
You should not compare yourself with others. Treating yourself with kindness and respect in every possible situation is the best way to take care of yourself.

Start Taking Care of Your Body
The body is your abode. Especially for students, during their growing age self-care is very important. You can take care of yourself by doing following things such as:

• Having a well-balanced diet.
• Exercising regularly
• Drinking plenty of water
• Take enough sleep
• Taking out time for things you enjoy

Invest Your Time on Yourself
  You should at least invest some time of the day in self-development. Reading self-development books, writing or developing new skills such as swimming, dancing or playing musical instruments are some great ways to develop yourself as an individual and to spend your time creatively.

Learn to Deal with Stress
Stress has become a part of students’ lives. It could be because of academic pressure, peer pressure and exam pressure. To deal with stress, you can try going out for walks and practising yoga. Some students also find listening to music and watching funny videos calming and relaxing.

 Calm Your Mind
Mental health is about how students think, feel and behave. A peaceful mind is necessary for handling stress and to do better in academics as well as co-curricular activities.  Starting your day with positive affirmations is a great way to boost your mood early in the morning. A quick meditation session and positive self-talk can also be helpful.

 Set Realistic Goals
Sometimes students set unrealistic goals which cause stress to them when not fulfilled. You can start setting small goals. Completing small tasks slowly will give you a sense of accomplishment.

 Reward Yourself on Achievements
Keep yourself happy by celebrating your achievements. Rewarding your achievements is a great way to keep yourself on the path of hard work and success.

 Get Help if You Need It
If you have a feeling that you are not able to handle things all by yourself, seeking help is the best thing to do. Talk to your parents, teachers, and counsellors at school. They can guide you the best.