Throughout your child’s stay at day camp, their physical health will greatly benefit from all the running they’ll be doing. But beyond the physicality, you’ll also want to keep on top of your child’s mental health.
Mental health is a huge topic, both for adults and children. Sometimes, it can feel impossible to separate the effect of your child’s mental health on their physical health. Mental illnesses are often accompanied by physical symptoms or vice versa. These things may seem like no big deal can have an actual impact on your child’s overall well-being and development as well as their mental health.
So what if we could manage our own anxiety in order to help our children? What if we could encourage positive thinking at home? Be it through conversation or expression, here’s how you can maintain your child’s mental health.
Engage in Healthy Communication
As parents, you understand the importance of maintaining your child’s mental health. One of the biggest ways to do such is to engage in healthy communication. This can mean any number of things…
For example, it can be as small as saying “Good morning” and “I love you” in the morning. But if you want to really engage your child in healthy communication, you’ll want to talk to them in a non-intrusive way. Start by simply asking them how their day was after school or camp, talk to them about their problems, and most importantly, be a good listener. Hear your children out, because you never know what they’re going through.
It goes beyond conversation, too. Making sure that you hug them and delivering gestures of appreciation — like leaving a wholesome handwritten note in their lunchbox — can do wonders for your child.
Expressing Love is Important for Your Child’s Mental Health
When you express love for your child, you are telling them that they are important. You are telling them that they are loved and worthy. Your words alone can make a big difference in the way your child feels about themselves, which can have a huge impact on your child’s mental health.
You should also express how proud you are of them. When they get a good grade, win a game, and achieve a major accomplishment that they set their mind to, nothing compares to the love a parent can express for their child in that moment. And on the other hand, even if they don’t do so well on a test, lose a game, or didn’t achieve that milestone, you should still demonstrate appreciation for their efforts and reassure them that there will be another chance.
Being Aware of Behavior Changes and Getting Help
Another important aspect of maintaining your child’s mental health is being aware of behavior changes.
Sometimes it’s not clear when your child needs treatment because they may not be expressing their feelings or behaviors outwardly. Instead of talking about how they feel or what is bothering them, children might act out in school or lash out at home in an angry manner. Keeping tabs of their behavior, whether it’s remaining in contact with school officials or coaches, will help parents get a better understanding of their child’s behavior and mental health.
If their behavior gets out of hand, then it may be time to consider seeking professional help.
Maintaining Your Child’s Mental Health at Buckley
At Buckley, our camp counselors and team are trained to work with children of all ages and backgrounds. We strive to build a community based on inclusion, acceptance, and gratitude — all with your child’s mental health in mind.
To learn more about the Buckley experience, please visit our website and get in touch with today for more!