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Mental Health

Laura Mitchell, Mental Health

Beech Acres CEO Laura Mitchell Participates In Cincinnati City Hall Panel On Youth Mental Health Crisis 

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Laura Mitchell, president and CEO of Beech Acres Parenting Center, recently participated in a panel discussion about the youth mental health crisis in the country, at Cincinnati City Hall on Monday, June 26, after a 4 p.m. presentation of the documentary film on the same topic, “Wait to Nowhere.” Mitchell joined leaders from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Interact for Health on the panel during a meeting of the Climate, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee of Cincinnati City Council. During the panel discussion, Mitchell discussed Beech Acres’ ongoing work toward strategies to strengthen youth mental health and safety, emphasizing prevention. Beech Acres is collaborating with Congressman Greg Landsman to convene a regional youth mental health forum to identify community metrics and a mental health dashboard. Beech Acres also serves children and families in the community with programs available through schools and pediatric offices, plus direct parent coaching. City council issued a proclamation urging action on our area’s children’s mental health crisis.

Mental Health

A Family Specialist Reflects on the Importance of Therapy

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Guest Blogger: Jessie Broach, Family Specialist Beech Acres Parenting Center When I was a child, I didn’t see a therapist that looked like me or that could help identify what I was going through. My daughter was starting therapy, so I knew that if I was helping her get help dealing with her big emotions, I knew I needed to lead by example. The older I got, the more I needed to talk to someone about my issues, but I couldn’t find the right therapist because I didn’t feel as though the therapists that were available to me would be able to understand where I was coming from. I didn’t fully understand the things I needed. Growing up biracial puts a lot of stress on you coming from two different worlds. When I finally found a therapist through Poppy’s Therapeutic Corner. I chose this organization for two reasons; one was that it was the same name as one of the most influential people in my family, my dad’s uncle Poppy and two was that they are black-owned. When I saw the name, and it was black-owned, I knew it was a sign that I was looking at the right place for therapy. My uncle Poppy always had a way of speaking to my heart with his words that always uplifted me and gave me strength, and gave me so much ancestral information about my beautiful black culture. I have been going to therapy with them for years, and my therapist has helped me to unlock some strengths and skills that I didn’t think were there. This has strengthened me to be the best specialist, coworker, friend, mother, and partner. Therapy can be good for anyone, even when we are not in crisis.

Blue flyer for the Greater Cincinnati Youth Mental Wellness Summit
Mental Health

Greater Cincinnati Youth Mental Wellness Summit To Spark Community Discussion On Mental Health Crisis In Children

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Beech Acres Parenting Center will combine efforts with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Center for Integrative Health and Wellness; and the City of Cincinnati for a conversation on the growing mental health crisis for children that was detailed by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy in his recent advisory, ”Protecting Youth Mental Health.”  REGISTER ONLINE HERE The collaboration of local experts will be highlighted by the first Greater Cincinnati Youth Mental Wellness Summit on February 8 (details below). The summit will include direct outreach to local school superintendents and school principals. The ultimate goal of this joint initiative is to spark discussion on the Surgeon General’s message on the mental health crisis in our youth while providing school superintendents and school principals with resources and tips to support their teachers and staff, ultimately promoting the well-being of adults and children alike. The Greater Cincinnati Youth Mental Wellness Summit will include experts from each participating organization engaging with school leaders on specific areas to support their teachers’ and staff’s health and wellbeing. Participants will have the opportunity to experience a few mindfulness and breath techniques to support their own wellbeing and self-care and then will learn three ways to support their teachers and staff during this ongoing crisis. There will be the opportunity for question-and-answer at the end of the Summit. The program will also be recorded and available to the public, clearing the way for school leadership to observe all conversations and access all the information to be shared, even if they cannot attend the event in real-time.  “We are thankful to the U.S. Surgeon General for elevating the importance of the mental health of our young people with this advisory,” said Laura Mitchell, president, and CEO of Beech Acres Parenting Center. “The first step toward providing support is to spread the word about where to turn, which is why this collaboration promises to make such a positive impact.” “Over the past several years we have had a growing challenge in meeting the mental health needs of our young people,” said Michael Sorter, MD, director of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Cincinnati Children’s. “Suicide is the second leading cause of death of individuals aged 10 to 24 years. One in 10 children are disabled due to mental illness. The stress of COVID to our young people and families has turned this into a national crisis and emergency. We all need to work together to build the systems to support children and families.”  “The Center is honored to be joining these thought leaders in our community to advance and support the well-being of our city’s youth and those who work daily to teach, mentor, and inspire them,” said Sian Cotton, Ph.D., Turner Farm Foundation Chair and director of the U.C. Center for Integrative Health and Wellness. “It’s imperative that we take away any stigma associated with mental health initiatives for adults and youth, and promote mental health as another component of total wellness,” said Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, vice mayor of the City of Cincinnati. The Greater Cincinnati Youth Mental Wellness Summit will take place at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, February 8, via Zoom. There is no cost to attend, although advance registration is encouraged. School representatives can contact Beech Acres Parenting Center for registration information at (513) 231-6630. Individuals can engage and follow the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #HelpCincyKids. Watch a special Facebook Live featuring Beech Acres Parenting Center President & CEO, Laura Mitchell discussing the Greater Cincinnati Youth Mental Wellness Summit. # # # About Beech Acres: At Beech Acres Parenting Center, we uncover the natural gifts of children by unleashing the power of parents and caregivers. As a contemporary parenting center, BAPC serves over 30,000 people annually through a wide range of services including foster care, kinship care, adoption, behavioral health support in schools, parent coaching and much more. All of our programs are founded in our Natural Strength Parenting™ framework which enables parents to unlock their own potential by building on their unique strengths. For more information, visit www.beechacres.org. About University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Center for Integrative Health and Wellness: The Center’s mission is to improve the health of our local and global community through innovative, internationally-recognized research, education, clinical practice, and community engagement efforts focused on integrative health and wellness. For more information, visit: https://www.med.uc.edu/institutes/integrative/home Media Contact:         Peter Osborne 513-729-9517 peter.osborne@keypointpr.com

Photo of a young girl talking to someone as they write on a clipboard
ACEs, Beyond The Classroom, Mental Health, Mental Health Month

A Dad’s Perseverance Helps His Daughter Get The Support She Needs

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Families are complex. Unfortunately, so is healthcare in the United States. All too often, parents are unable to find, receive, or afford appropriate healthcare for their children. This applies to physical and mental health care, both of which are vital to raising healthy kids.  Mia’s* dad was desperate for help. Mia was acting out at home and at school. She was becoming more and more withdrawn. Their relationship was becoming increasingly strained. Dad wasn’t sure what to do or where to turn for help.  Mia’s parents are divorced. Though they share joint custody of Mia, the agreement is stressed by geographic differences. Mia moved out of Ohio with her mother after the divorce, while dad stayed home to care for his own father. Mia’s behavioral issues emerged shortly after she recently returned to Ohio to live with her dad. The problems became more pronounced as the school year progressed. Complications related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the situation.  Then Mia’s teacher discovered Mia was hurting herself.  Dad sought help at Cincinnati’s respected local hospitals but unfortunately encountered long waitlists for mental health services. Mia needed help right away. Dad reached out to Beech Acres Parenting Center to inquire if a student enrolled in the virtual academy would be eligible for services. He was hopeful Mia would benefit from a holistic, strengths-based approach to her treatment. Unfortunately, Mia’s mother held her insurance in another state, complicating Mia’s ability to receive treatment in Ohio.  Sensitive to the urgency in providing support for Mia, Beech Acres Parenting Center’s Beyond the Classroom, Client Access, and Kinship Connections teams brainstormed ways to remove barriers for Mia to receive services. Fortunately, we were able to provide flexible payment options that dad could afford to get Mia into services right away.  Dad was relieved. He agreed to the flexible payment option, and Mia began weekly sessions with Lindsay, a Beech Acres Parenting Center therapist. Lindsay’s goal was to get Mia back on track as soon as possible. Lindsay identified Mia’s strengths which included teamwork, hope, and perseverance. Lindsay reinforced these strengths and introduced Mia to some coping skills and affirmations based in mindfulness to help her confront and address her feelings in a positive way.  Mia began to see improvement.  Her discipline incidents in school decreased significantly. She stopped acting out so often in school and at home. Her relationship with her father improved. She became less withdrawn, building her strength of teamwork by playing softball. She is making tremendous progress both behaviorally and academically. And most importantly, her self-harm has ceased.  Mia is continuing with weekly sessions with Lindsay until she moves back in with her mom for the summer. The goal is to build as much resiliency in Mia as possible before she heads home. Resilience empowers children to overcome obstacles, effectively address their big emotions, and diminish the harmful effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) they encounter. Thanks to dad’s perseverance, hope, and love Mia was able to receive the care she so desperately needed.

Photo of a person sitting on the ground with their head on their knees and their arms crossed with one hand on the side of their head
Mental Health, Mental Health Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Learn How to Talk to Your Child About Mental Health.

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month. 1 in 5 children lives with a serious, diagnosable mental illness. 1 in 5. Think about your child’s friends, their class, and their school. That’s a lot of kids. It’s never been more important to be able to speak openly and honestly about mental health with your children. Fortunately, today’s parents are more open to discussing these important issues than previous generations. Speaking to your child about mental health is important for every parent, but you may not know exactly what to say or even where to start. As with most essential topics, start at the beginning. Talk with your children about their feelings, focus on their strengths, and most importantly listen to what they have to say. Check out our complete guide to talking to your child about mental health at any age. Learn more about discussing mental health with your preschooler. Learn more about discussing mental health with your child in elementary school. Learn more about discussing mental health with your teens and high schoolers. Looking to go further? Check out Natural Strength Parenting To Go! These text-based courses from our parenting experts help you get the most out of Natural Strength Parenting™ with easy-to-implement parenting strategies. Get started today!

Photo of an unhappy teen boy sitting in a chair with his hands on his face
Giving Tuesday, Mental Health, Uncategorized

Help Kids Like Scott Receive Critical Interventions and Services Right in Their School With a Gift To Beech Acres Parenting Center

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Scott was sent to the principal’s office. Again. He seemed so angry all the time. His behavior was affecting his school work and his relationship with his family. Mom and dad were frustrated and unsure about how to approach the situation. A Family Peer Support Specialist at Scott’s school connected the family with Beech Acres Parenting Center. The family was excited to have access to services for their son right in his school. They quickly learned Scott’s strengths (humor and kindness were his top!) and the power of mindfulness. Scott’s therapist identified self-regulation as a strength to be improved. Scott learned an activity he could use to help himself calm down when confronted with a stressful situation. Scott learned to S.T.O.P. Stop what you are doing. Take a calming breath. Observe what’s around you. Proceed with what you are doing. This simple exercise improved his behavior and decreased the number of visits to the principal’s office. Scott still has a long way to go, but with your support, he and his family are becoming stronger and growing closer every day. With a gift to Beech Acres Parenting Center this #GivingTuesday you are helping kids like Scott receive critical interventions and services right in their school. Download the STOP Mindful Moment  

Photo of a 4 person family sitting together on a couch
Anxiety, Mental Health, Natural Strength Parenting™

How To Talk To Your Kids About Mental Health; A Complete Guide For Parents

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How To Talk To Your Kids About Mental Health 1 in 5 children lives with a serious, diagnosable mental illness. 1 in 5. Think about your child’s friends, their class, and their school. That’s a lot of kids. It’s never been more important to be able to speak openly and honestly about mental health with your children. Fortunately, today’s parents are more open to discussing these important issues than previous generations. So, you’re open to discussing mental health with your child, but how do you do it? Where do you start? As with most essential topics, start at the beginning. Talk with your children about their feelings, focus on their strengths, and most importantly listen to what they have to say. Here are some tips from our parenting experts to get the conversation started at any age and to keep it going. Preschool It’s never too early to begin talking to your child about mental health. For your younger children, keep it simple and speak in terms and contexts that they will be able to understand. Preschool-age children are likely not just going to tell you how they feel, but they may express their feelings in a variety of ways. Look for their clues and engage them when you see them expressing different emotions. Use these clues as an opportunity for you to help them understand their feelings as they are first experiencing them and help them navigate their reactions to those emotions. What to ask. And what to say to your preschooler. What causes you to have butterflies in your stomach? This feeling of anxiety or nervousness is an easy one for children to recognize as it manifests itself physically. Help them identify what causes these feelings and help them cope with it by facing their feelings head-on. Where do your feelings come from? Helping your children understand where their feelings come from, how and why they react to certain experiences and stimuli, can help them begin to work out what to do with those emotions. Who can you talk to if your feelings get to be too much? Let your children know that you are there for them always. But also teach them to establish trust with other key adults in their lives. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, mentors, close friends, and doctors and therapists should be recognized as trusted people that they can turn to discuss their feelings. What are some ways you can calm down/relax/feel better/control your feelings? However, you phrase it, making sure that your children understand basic coping techniques at an early age is important. It may be quiet time in their room, a certain song or playlist, drawing or coloring, or even snuggling with mom or dad. Once your children know they have a way to deal with their feelings, they are starting to build resilience. Use media and daily experiences to normalize conversations about reacting to specific emotions. After watching a movie, TV show, or YouTube video together discuss how the characters interacted with each other and dealt with their feelings. Elementary School By the time your child is in elementary school, their personalities are well established, they’ve probably made some strong friendships and they are full of emotions. Often, these emotions will come as unexpected outbursts that may catch you off guard! That’s OK. They are learning to express their feelings, and you can be there to guide them. Linking their feelings and how they express them to their strengths is key at this age to identify and build their unique strengths and build resiliency. What to say to your kids when they are in elementary school. Make a feelings thermometer Kids at this age can understand things when they are presented to them visually. Giving them a way to express and understand how they are feeling visually can help them start to manage those emotions. Have your child interview others about their feelings and how they cope. Hopefully, while your child was younger, you helped them identify key adults (including yourself!) that they can talk to about their feelings. An interview with one of these trusted persons can help your child see that everyone deals with changing emotions and can give them insight into how others cope. Ask your child, “Is it okay to feel; sad, embarrassed, guilty, shame, happy, joy, lonely, anger?” Normalize their feelings. No matter what they are. Forget the notion that boys don’t cry and eliminate the concept of shame from your daughter’s vocabulary. All emotions are valid, and your child is going to feel ALL of the feels. Sometimes in the same day! Make sure they understand it is OK to not be OK all the time. And remind them that you are there for them. What does it feel like when you get nervous? Those butterflies in their stomach aren’t going to go anywhere anytime soon. As they get older, they may encounter more things that cause them to be nervous. New teachers, new school, new friends, new team, homework. Managing their nervousness and making sure it doesn’t explode into full-blown panic is a skill that they can continue to develop their entire lives. Who are three people are in can trust with your thoughts/ feelings? As they get older, your children may feel more comfortable discussing things with their friends. That’s fine, but make sure those relationships stay healthy and make sure to keep yourself in the loop. Narrowing down a circle of trusted people ensures them that they always have someone to talk to you. Junior High and High School   Teenagers. Am I right? You thought they could throw a tantrum when they were toddlers? That’s nothing to the depth of emotions you’ll see as they (hopefully) mature into young adults. Pre-teens, tweens, and teenagers are different from your younger kids as they are dealing with far greater and far more pressure than ever before. Mix in challenging physical changes and ever more complex relationships, and you’ll quickly find that discussing

Photo of a man sitting on a bench while talking to a young girl
Anxiety, Mental Health, Natural Strength Parenting™, Parenting Tips, Parents

How To Talk To Your Kids About Mental Health; Speaking To Your High Schooler

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How To Talk To Your Kids About Mental Health 1 in 5 children lives with a serious, diagnosable mental illness. 1 in 5. Think about your child’s friends, their class, their school. That’s a lot of kids. It’s never been more important to be able to speak openly and honestly about mental health with your children. Fortunately, today’s parents are more open to discussing these important issues that previous generations. So, you’re open to discussing mental health with your child, but how do you do it? Where do you start? As with most essential topics, start at the beginning. Talk with your children about their feelings, focus on their strengths, and, most importantly listen to what they have to say. Here are some tips from our parenting experts to start the conversation with your teen. Junior High and High School   Teenagers. Am I right? You thought they could throw a tantrum when they were toddlers? That’s nothing to the depth of emotions you’ll see as they (hopefully) mature into young adults. Pre-teens, tweens, and teenagers are different from your younger kids as they are dealing with far greater and far more pressure than ever before. Mix in challenging physical changes and ever more complex relationships, and you’ll quickly find that discussing mental health with your teenagers is critically important. With teen suicide at an all-time high, there has never been a better reason to talk, and listen to, your kids.  What to say to your kids as they sprint toward adulthood. Find creative ways other than talking to express their feelings. The bottom line is sometimes your teen is just not going to want to talk about how they are feeling. That can be OK on occasion as long as they have some way to express themselves. Encourage journaling, painting, music, drawing, dancing, anything artistic builds on their strength of creativity and can help them manage their emotions even when they don’t feel like talking. Ask questions when they are feeling fine. Mental health is just like physical health. Sometimes you feel good, and other times, not so much. Having conversations around their positive emotions and what makes them feel good, reinforces those good feelings, and helps prepare them to cope with the bad. Ask them questions that help you gauge their sadder emotions. Understanding if your child feels like they do not have a way to express their feelings, or don’t have someone to talk to is critical. Hopefully, when they were younger, you established key adults in their lives that they can go to. Ask them, “Do you ever feel completely alone?” or “Do you ever feel like no one understands you?” If the answer is yes, reinforce that you are there for them and reiterate everyone else in their lives that care for them as well. A mental health assessment may help you understand if a more therapeutic approach is necessary here. Talk to them about the stressors and pressures in their lives. Kids are busier now than ever. And the pressure they feel, whether it’s from you, a teacher or coach, or even themselves, is greater than ever. Stay involved. Talk to your children daily over dinner and understand what is going on in their lives. If homework, an after-school job, or college pressures are getting to be too much, intervene with coping methods to help them get back on track. A little mindfulness, some breathing exercises, yoga, or even just a walk outdoors can help ease their stress Monitor their media consumption. Look, you know your kid is staring at their phone all day every day. But do you know what they are staring at. This generation is growing up in a culture and with a comfort around technology that you probably don’t have. It can be hard to keep up. The reality is it’s far too easy for them to slip in a digital rabbit hole of inappropriate content, messaging that doesn’t align with your family’s values, and cyberbullying. Be aware of what they are doing online and be proactive. Ask if they know people who struggle with anxiety or depression and how they manage it? Be prepared for the answer to this question to be yes. Your child likely knows someone that is dealing with something. They may learn coping skills from their friends, but this is an opportunity to gain insight into how they are feeling about anxiety or depression. Listen to them and seek help if necessary. How long is it okay to be sad…. 1 minute, 1 hour, 1 day, 100 days? Trying to gauge your child understanding of sadness can open up a real conversation about mental health. Feelings should come and go. Again, like physical feelings, emotional feelings can be good and bad and can and should change with experiences and because of your environment. It’s when those not so great feeling emotions hang around for a little too long that you may need to be concerned. Talking with your children early, often, and continuously about their mental well-being is so essential. Share these tips with fellow parents and let us know which strategies worked best for your family. Check out our complete guide to talking to your child about mental health at any age. Learn more about discussing mental health with your preschooler. Learn more about discussing mental health with your child in elementary school. Learn more about discussing mental health with your teens and high schoolers. Looking to go further? Check out Natural Strength Parenting To Go! These text-based courses from our parenting experts help you get the most out of Natural Strength Parenting™ with easy-to-implement parenting strategies. Get started today!

Photo of a loving mother and child holding hands while talking and sitting on sofa
Anxiety, Back To School, Mental Health, Natural Strength Parenting™

How To Talk To Your Kids About Mental Health; Tips For Speaking With Your Child In Elementary School

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How To Talk To Your Kids About Mental Health 1 in 5 children lives with a serious, diagnosable mental illness. 1 in 5. Think about your child’s friends, their class, their school. That’s a lot of kids. It’s never been more important to be able to speak openly and honestly about mental health with your children. Fortunately, today’s parents are more open to discussing these important issues that previous generations. So, you’re open to discussing mental health with your child, but how do you do it? Where do you start? As with most essential topics, start at the beginning. Talk with your children about their feelings, focus on their strengths, and most importantly listen to what they have to say. Here are some tips from our parenting experts to get the conversation started with your child in elementary school. We also shared how to talk to your preschooler and we’ll help you keep the conversation going with tips on speaking to your child into junior high and high school. Elementary School By the time your child is in elementary school, their personalities are well established, they’ve probably made some strong friendships and they are full of emotions. Often, these emotions will come as unexpected outbursts that may catch you off guard! That’s OK. They are learning to express their feelings, and you can be there to guide them. Linking their feelings and how they express them to their strengths is key at this age to identify and build their unique strengths and build resiliency. What to say to your kids when they are in elementary school. Make a feelings thermometerhttps://copingskillsforkids.com/blog/2016/4/27/making-a-feelings-thermometer Kids at this age can understand things when they are presented to them visually. Giving them a way to express and understand how they are feeling visually can help them start to manage those emotions. Have your child interview others about their feelings and how they cope. Hopefully, while your child was younger, you helped them identify key adults (including yourself!) that they can talk to about their feelings. An interview with one of these trusted persons can help your child see that everyone deals with changing emotions and can give them insight into how others cope. Ask your child, “Is it okay to feel; sad, embarrassed, guilty, shame, happy, joy, lonely, anger?” Normalize their feelings. No matter what they are. Forget the notion that boys don’t cry and eliminate the concept of shame from your daughter’s vocabulary. All emotions are valid, and your child is going to feel ALL of the feels. Sometimes in the same day! Make sure they understand it is OK to not be OK all the time. And remind them that you are there for them. What does it feel like when you get nervous? Those butterflies in their stomach aren’t going to go anywhere anytime soon. As they get older, they may encounter more things that cause them to be nervous. New teachers, new school, new friends, new team, homework. Managing their nervousness and making sure it doesn’t explode into full-blown panic is a skill that they can continue to develop their entire lives. Who are three people are in can trust with your thoughts/ feelings? As they get older, your children may feel more comfortable discussing things with their friends. That’s fine, but make sure those relationships stay healthy and make sure to keep yourself in the loop. Narrowing down a circle of trusted people ensures them that they always have someone to talk to you. Talking with your children early, often, and continuously about their mental well-being is so essential. Share these tips with fellow parents and let us know which strategies worked best for your family. Check out our complete guide to talking to your child about mental health at any age. Learn more about discussing mental health with your preschooler. Learn more about discussing mental health with your child in elementary school. Learn more about discussing mental health with your teens and high schoolers. Looking to go further? Check out Natural Strength Parenting To Go! These text-based courses from our parenting experts help you get the most out of Natural Strength Parenting™ with easy to implement parenting strategies. Get started today!

Photo of a little girl reading with father on the couch
Anxiety, Back To School, Mental Health, Natural Strength Parenting™, Parenting Tips, Parents

How To Talk To Your Kids About Mental Health; Tips For Talking To Your Preschooler

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How To Talk To Your Kids About Mental Health 1 in 5 children lives with a serious, diagnosable mental illness. 1 in 5. Think about your child’s friends, their class, their school. That’s a lot of kids. It’s never been more important to be able to speak openly and honestly about mental health with your children. Fortunately, today’s parents are more open to discussing these important issues that previous generations. So, you’re open to discussing mental health with your child, but how do you do it? Where do you start? As with most essential topics, start at the beginning. Talk with your children about their feelings, focus on their strengths, and most importantly listen to what they have to say. Here are some tips from our parenting experts to get the conversation started with your preschooler. We’ll also share how to keep the conversation going with tips on speaking to your child in elementary school and into junior high and high school. Preschool It’s never too early to begin talking to your child about mental health. For your younger children, keep it simple and speak in terms and contexts that they will be able to understand. Preschool-age children are likely not just going to tell you how they feel, but they may express their feelings in a variety of ways. Look for their clues and engage them when you see them expressing different emotions. Use these clues as an opportunity for you to help them understand their feelings as they are first experiencing them and help them navigate their reactions to those emotions. What to ask. And what to say to your preschooler. What causes you to have butterflies in your stomach? This feeling of anxiety or nervousness is an easy one for children to recognize as it manifests itself physically. Help them identify what causes these feelings and help them cope with it by facing their feelings head-on. Where do your feelings come from? Helping your children understand where their feelings come from, how and why they react to certain experiences and stimuli, can help them begin to work out what to do with those emotions. Who can you talk to if your feelings get to be too much? Let your children know that you are there for them always. But also teach them to establish trust with other key adults in their lives. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, mentors, close friends, and doctors and therapists should be recognized as trusted people that they can turn to discuss their feelings. What are some ways you can calm down/relax/feel better/control your feelings? However, you phrase it, making sure that your children understand basic coping techniques at an early age is important. It may be quiet time in their room, a certain song or playlist, drawing or coloring, or even snuggling with mom or dad. Once your children know they have a way to deal with their feelings, they are starting to build resilience. Use media and daily experiences to normalize conversations about reacting to specific emotions. After watching a movie, TV show, or YouTube video together discuss how the characters interacted with each other and dealt with their feelings. Talking with your children early, often, and continuously about their mental well-being is so essential. Share these tips with fellow parents and let us know which strategies worked best for your family. Check out our complete guide to talking to your child about mental health at any age. Learn more about discussing mental health with your preschooler. Learn more about discussing mental health with your child in elementary school. Learn more about discussing mental health with your teens and high schoolers. Looking to go further? Check out Natural Strength Parenting To Go! These text-based courses from our parenting experts help you get the most out of Natural Strength Parenting™ with easy-to-implement parenting strategies. Get started today!

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