Our mental health significantly impacts our overall health and wellbeing. Therefore, it is crucial to support children in developing their emotional health and wellbeing skills. Understanding and nurturing mental health is beneficial because good mental health supports:
- Reduced anxiety
- Improved moods
- Increased self-esteem
- Reduced risks of long-term mental health issues such as clinical depression
Supporting children from a young age to understand, develop, and look after their emotional health and wellbeing is essential for their growth and success into adulthood.
Trauma Informed
Trauma in a child early years can significantly impact a child's development and wellbeing. Young children who experience trauma, such as abuse, neglect, or the loss of a caregiver, often struggle with emotional regulation, trust, and forming healthy relationships.
These children may exhibit a range of behaviours, from aggression and withdrawal to regressive actions like bed-wetting or thumb-sucking. By understanding the effects of trauma and responding with sensitivity and care, parents and carers can help children build resilience, develop coping skills, and foster a sense of security and trust. This approach not only supports the child's immediate emotional needs but also lays the foundation for healthier development and better long-term outcomes.
1001 Critical days
The first 1001 days of a child's life, from conception to age two, is a window of opportunity. It is a time of particularly rapid growth and brain development. Leading child health experts agree that the care given during the first 1001 days has more influence on a child's future than at any other time in their life.
- From around 8 weeks pregnant, babies respond to touch.
- By 23 weeks pregnant, babies can hear sounds from the outside world.
- By the age of 2, a child's brain is already 80% developed.
To support parents and carers with the important role they play during this time, here are a list of events and links to information, resources and ideas of things to try that can help babies to develop.
For more information please visit 1001 days website.
1001 Days New Leics Leaflet June 2022 (PDF, 8.5 Mb)1001 Days guide for families
The Solihull Approach
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust has partnered with the Solihull Approach to offer free access to expertly designed online courses for parents, carers, grandparents and teens living in the UK. To find out more, there is a youtube video and document below explaining the Solihull approach.
1 Leicester General Print (marks Bleed ) (PDF, 668 Kb)Use the code CURVE to access the free sessions!
Useful Websites
- Solihull approach: Free training to offer support on emotional health and wellbeing in young children
- Every mind matters: tips for parents on ways to look after a child mental health, along with ways to look after their own mental health and wellbeing. Life can be tough so it is important to look after your own mental wellbeing, as this will help you support yourself and those you care about.
- Anna Freud - National Centre for Children and Families: The Anna Freud Centre provide a range of information for parents and carers, including self care top tips for young parents and carers.
- Happy Maps: a range of resources for children aged 0-5 (pre-schoolers), including advice, guidance and signposting on topics such as behaviour problems, anxiety, ADHD and more.
- Health for under 5: tips on how you're able to support children through grief and loss, along with tips to help your child through a relationship break down
- Institute of wellbeing: information and help on when relationships in families break down.
