Seven-year-olds are learning so many new things, like making friends, understanding feelings, and starting school. These experiences can be exciting and sometimes a little scary. By talking about emotions and learning simple ways to feel better, children can begin to understand and take care of their mental health.

Children between the ages of five and ten are experiencing lots of changes as they grow, like learning new things in school, making friends, and understanding their feelings. These changes can sometimes feel big and even a little overwhelming, especially without tools to help manage emotions. Your support as a parent or someone in a parenting role is essential in helping them learn how to take care of their mental health and build strong emotional skills.

Sometimes, tough things like family challenges or difficult experiences can affect a child’s mental health. Getting professional support can be helpful if your family is going through something challenging. The steps here, though, can guide you in helping your child develop everyday skills to handle feelings and build resilience.

Mental health is just as important as physical health! Children face challenges like feeling nervous about school, getting frustrated with friends, or dealing with big feelings. Helping your child learn about mental health can help them:

● Feel calm and confident about handling their feelings

● Make and keep friends by learning empathy and kind communication

● Understand their own feelings and why they feel a certain way

Your child is learning to identify their feelings and find words to express them. Teaching emotional awareness helps them communicate effectively and prevents them from becoming overwhelmed by strong emotions. By learning simple coping strategies early on, your child can handle setbacks or disappointments more easily and develop confidence in their ability to manage difficult situations. The coping skills and emotional tools you help your child develop now can stay with them throughout their lives. Early mental health habits, like talking about feelings or using calming techniques[1] , set the stage for stronger mental health in adolescence and adulthood.

By focusing on mental health at this stage, parents and those in a parenting role are helping their children feel supported, capable, and ready to handle whatever comes their way, creating a foundation for lifelong well-being.

These five steps can help your child build skills that support their mental health and make them more resilient.

Tip: Intentional communication[2] and actively growing a healthy parenting relationship[3] will support these steps.

Ask your child questions to help them understand and express their feelings[4] . This process promotes self-awareness and encourages them to recognize emotions in others.

Questions to Ask:

● “What made you happy or excited today?”

● “Did anything make you feel a little sad or frustrated?”

● “Is there something you felt worried about today?”

● “What do you think that person (or character in a book or on TV) is...