Mighty Mama Bear

Express Yourself : Children’s Mental Health Week 2021

Children’s mental health has never been more important. With many children at home, isolated from most of their family and friends, it’s imperative we’re aware of the impact this pandemic could be having on our children.

Children’s Mental Health Week takes place on 1st-7th February 2021 and is supported by Place2Be’s Royal Patron, the Duchess of Cambridge. This years theme is Express Yourself.

Express Yourself

There are so many things that could be troubling our children right now. From the affects of the pandemic, worrying about loved ones, to more traditional childhood worries about school and friendships. There are many ways we can help our children with their mental health during lockdown, one of which is encouraging children to discuss their feelings. We’re very open about mental health in our house and often encourage the kids to talk about their day and anything that may be troubling them. Out of the three of them, my eldest is the one who struggles the most and yet is the most reluctant to discuss what’s bothering him. However there are so many other ways to encourage children to express themselves. Expressing themselves could mean using art or music to show their innermost feelings. It could also be as simple as wearing clothes they feel really represent them. It’s all about doing things that make them feel good about themselves.

Here are just a few ideas.

Music

Music is a great way way of encouraging children to express themselves. They may choose to play an instrument or sing songs that not only make them feel good about themselves, but also display how they are feeling. Alternatively, simply listening to their favourite songs or music they can relate to can also have a positive influence on their emotions.

Poetry / Creative Writing

Finding the words to express how they’re feeling may not always be the issue, it could just be reluctance to voice them. Often writing down feelings or emotions can be a lot easier than talking openly. Writing poetry, stories or letters are all great ways of getting these thoughts down on paper. It’s then up to your child what they do with it. They may wish to share it with you or they may prefer to keep them to themselves. Sometimes just writing it down is enough.

Art

Art is a great tool for allowing children to express themselves. Art often speaks for itself and you can often tell a lot of the thought process behind it by looking at the colours, shapes and figures used. Art can be used as a creative yet calming activity that a lot of children enjoy.

Dance

Dance is a great creative outlet that not only allows children to burn off some excess energy but also releases endorphins which can instantly boost a child’s mood. Not only dance help with strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance, it can also tell a story which is a great way for a child to express themselves.

Clothes and Fashion

Some children may wish to express themselves through clothing. This could be as simple as preferring to wear a specific colour or garment such as a skirt or dress (for girls or boys). Sometimes dressing up as a princess or superhero can be a great way of expressing themselves, as it’s sometimes easier to display emotions when playing the role of somebody else.

Don’t Forget Your Own Mental Health

While the focus on child mental health is of course a brilliant thing, as the Duchess states in the video above, it’s also a great time to think about your own mental health. Maternal mental health is something that should also be spoken about often, as should mental health in general. I feel as parents we all often feel we shouldn’t complain but it’s important we all feel able to share our emotions and express ourselves, just as we encourage our children to do the same.