Childrens Mental Health
Supporting Children’s Mental Health
Patricia S. Dailey
ECE214: Nutrition and Health of Children and Families
Tina Grasby-Assa
Aug 6, 2010
Children’s mental health is a very important part of learning because children need to be able to control their emotions and behaviors in order to function in developmentally appropriate ways. Mental health refers to children’s abilities to understand and manage their emotions and behaviors, to function positively with others in age appropriate and developmentally appropriate ways, and to form meaningful relationships (Amador, Daeschel, and Sorte, Pg. 416). Children are emotional rollercoasters and each one learn from adults on how to handle certain things as they grow up from the time they are infants until they are adults themselves. Teachers play a big roll also in helping children to develop positive mental health and learn from other children as well. When children can emotionally establish a good relationship with their peers at a young age, they show good signs of age appropriate mental health. When an infant can laugh and crawl over to other class mates this shows developmentally appropriate emotions and actions. From a young age children need to learn how to establish good mental health from their caregiver. As teachers we are also obligated to watch and make sure the children are not doing things that would be consider in appropriate behavior that may be signs of negative mental health. As a teacher if we observe a child wanting to fight with other children, or not being able to understand certain consequences when it comes to action he/she has made. This would be a good time to get the family involved this will give us the opportunity to see what home life may be like. If we can find out what is going on in the home then it will give us a better understanding as to why this child may be acting out. Children who live in low income families do not always have the resources to help when a family has a child
Patricia S. Dailey
ECE214: Nutrition and Health of Children and Families
Tina Grasby-Assa
Aug 6, 2010
Children’s mental health is a very important part of learning because children need to be able to control their emotions and behaviors in order to function in developmentally appropriate ways. Mental health refers to children’s abilities to understand and manage their emotions and behaviors, to function positively with others in age appropriate and developmentally appropriate ways, and to form meaningful relationships (Amador, Daeschel, and Sorte, Pg. 416). Children are emotional rollercoasters and each one learn from adults on how to handle certain things as they grow up from the time they are infants until they are adults themselves. Teachers play a big roll also in helping children to develop positive mental health and learn from other children as well. When children can emotionally establish a good relationship with their peers at a young age, they show good signs of age appropriate mental health. When an infant can laugh and crawl over to other class mates this shows developmentally appropriate emotions and actions. From a young age children need to learn how to establish good mental health from their caregiver. As teachers we are also obligated to watch and make sure the children are not doing things that would be consider in appropriate behavior that may be signs of negative mental health. As a teacher if we observe a child wanting to fight with other children, or not being able to understand certain consequences when it comes to action he/she has made. This would be a good time to get the family involved this will give us the opportunity to see what home life may be like. If we can find out what is going on in the home then it will give us a better understanding as to why this child may be acting out. Children who live in low income families do not always have the resources to help when a family has a child
References: Amador, C., & Daeschel, I., & Sorte, J. (2011). Nutrition, Health, and Safety for Young Children. Promoting Wellness. Pearson Education Inc. Berk, L. (2008). Infants and children: Prenatal Through middle childhood. Pearson education Inc.