Parents play the most important role in the growth and future of their children. A child’s mind, character and confidence are shaped within the family environment. Even the small things that parents pay attention to in daily life greatly influence a child’s mental health. In today’s busy lifestyle, it is the responsibility of parents to provide stability and calmness to their children’s minds.
Good parenting habits practiced consistently not only strengthen children’s mental health but also boost their confidence, relationships and enthusiasm for learning. Even when children display high levels of intelligence, many are seen to have weak mental health. The fact that teenagers commit suicide because of exam failure, unsuccessful love or rejection in friendships shows that their mental health is fragile and that they suffer from emotional imbalance. In such situations, it becomes essential for parents to provide emotional support from childhood so that children grow into individuals who can face challenges on their own.
So, what should parents do?
A study conducted in 1997 by Gottman, Katz, and Hooven stated that parents should understand and guide their children’s emotions. Parents who are sensitive to their children’s feelings help them develop self-control, emotional closeness and focus. For this reason, encourage children to openly share their emotional experiences. For example, when they fail an exam, score lower than expected, or get ridiculed by others, they go through particular emotional states. Ask them how they felt during that time, help them express and recognize those emotions and teach them both the positive and negative sides of those feelings. Guide them in managing and overcoming emotions. If children are trained from a young age to share their feelings without hiding them, they will grow up with the ability to manage emotions and communicate openly in life.
Parents should also help children find solutions to problems. If children get stuck in a situation, instead of immediately stepping in to solve it, parents should give them the chance to think of possible solutions and decide how to resolve it. This helps them develop the ability to face and overcome problems independently. Parents should intervene only in situations where children truly cannot handle it themselves. If parents solve every problem during childhood, children may struggle to make important decisions later in life.
Children also learn many things through observation. Often, they model the way their parents handle challenges. The way parents react during emergencies becomes a learning example. If parents deal with difficulties calmly and positively, children too will naturally adopt a similar approach.
Always train children to speak positively. Children tend to slip into negative thoughts and conversations easily. Therefore, encourage them to think positively and speak with confidence. The first step towards this is to create a culture of positive communication at home.
Encourage children to look into the mirror each day and speak positive affirmations. Even while brushing their teeth in the morning, such practice can be incorporated. Daily physical exercise also helps maintain good mood and reduce stress. Physical activity generates energy, so it is important to give priority to personal well-being. Family activities like walking together or playing games together have a constructive impact on children.
