Manager kids and trying to help them become well-rounded adults is not an easy task and although most fathers care about the physical well-being of their children by taking them to the pediatrician, providing them with nutritious meals and helping them with their homework, their mental health Health is often ignored! While children are guilty of spending considerable time online, the recent Covid-19 pandemic has increased their screen time, opening up a pandora’s box of adverse psychological issues, making it a serious concern for parents and children. educators alike.
According to a study published in The Lancet, children between the ages of two and three spend more than three hours a day looking at screens such as tablets and television. These children tend to grow up less physically active at age 5.5, compared to those who use screens for an hour or less each day, which also affects their mental health.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr. Fabian Almeida, a consultant psychiatrist at Fortis Hospital in Kalyan, revealed five tips that can help parents improve a child’s mental health, especially when implemented early:
1. Spend time with your children – There is no alternative but to spend quality time with children as it has been shown to be one of the most effective ways to bond with them. Instead of spending money on things, it is more important to spend time with them so that they feel safe and loved. Both parents should take time each day to do activities together that include playing games together, watching a movie, or just talking about their day.
2. Please pay attention to what your children say – Many times, parents tend to ignore what their children tell them because they feel that it is not essential. However, this should be avoided because children tend to communicate their feelings verbally to their parents. If the proper communication channels are not created at the beginning, children tend to hide important information from their parents, which can have negative consequences in the future. Also, even if your child is not communicative, it is vital to help him open up and establish direct modes of communication so that he has someone to share his thoughts, dreams, ambitions and much more.
3. Give your child the praise he deserves – While all parents rebuke and scold their children for any wrong they do, it is just as important to praise them for the good they see in them. When this is done, it helps the child focus on excellent behavior and feel good about himself. It’s also a good idea to reward their good behavior with small, non-lavish incentives, as that will go a long way in encouraging them.
4. Have realistic expectations – Comparisons are never a good idea as they can make a child feel inferior. Building children’s self-esteem and motivating them to achieve their unique goals rather than comparing them to friends and siblings is essential to successful parenting. Even if a child reaches a small milestone, it is essential to praise her for her efforts and help her improve her performance through constructive discussions.
5. Instill behaviors that help them cope with stress and anxiety – In today’s competitive world, stress and anxiety affect almost everyone. While we can’t change the outside world, we can teach our children habits and behaviors that will help them deal with this stress convincingly. Accept stress as part of our lives and balance it within the scope of healthy thoughts and behaviors, without going into the pathological and unhealthy zone; it is the challenge we all must learn to face, early in life. For example, they are bound to have disagreements with friends and fail at assigned tasks at one time or another. In such a scenario, they need the skills to overcome these obstacles and develop their mental strength so that it does not affect their daily functioning. Teach your child ways to deal with stress, such as keeping a journal, meditating, and communicating with family and friends so they can manage the stress and anxiety they encounter in their lives, without affecting their overall positive outlook.
Additionally, facilitating help-seeking behaviors in times of emotional crisis, without shame or stigma, goes a long way toward securing and stabilizing future mental health. Let us each commit ourselves to do our bit and put together the pieces of the masterpiece of life!
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