NURTURING CHILD'S MENTAL HEALTH

Expert tips for supporting children’s well-being and also caring for yourself

- Dr Nithya Poornima

A child's mental health doesn't start in it begins in the teenage years Learly childhood. The way children experience love, care, and connection shapes their emotional resilience, selfesteem, and ability to cope with life's challenges. Just like their physical health, their mental well-being needs attention from the very beginning.

Infancy Sadiq is a cheerful 6-month-old who enjoys cooing and babbling with his mother. He laughs heartily when his father plays tickle games with him. He rarely cries and feels comforted quickly when one of his parents holds him close.

Neuroscience research highlights how early childhood experiences of love and safety play a key role in building trusting relationships and developing active pathways for learning. When infants receive care that is consistent, immediate, and in tune with their needs, there is a high likelihood that they will develop trust in their caregivers, who mean the world to them.

Soothing human voices, gentle physical touch, regular playful interactions, and predictable routines all help infants develop a rhythm that works well for them.

In fact, right from the time the fetus is in the womb, it is impacted by the experiences of the parents, especially the mother.

Making intentional choices about nutrition, sleep, exercise, healthy relationships, and stability of emotions right from the stage of conception can go a long way in ensuring a strong, stable, and nourishing foundation for the child.