Early childhood, the first plane of development, is a period of rapid brain development, growing independence, and powerful emotional learning. It is also a time when you can establish the seeds for healthy emotional development that will support their long term mental health in the years to come. Join this session to learn how you can nurture your young child’s mental health using strategies grounded in developmental science and the Montessori method – approaches that honor the whole child, and the important role of the prepared adult.
Content in this session will introduce science-aligned and positive parenting strategies to support the child’s mental health from the earliest years in daily life, with resource to expand your learning in this area.
In this video
Whining, clinging and meltdowns, and what they can say about a young child's mental health. Blanca Velazquez-Martin speaks to parents of young children about staying steady when your child falls apart, and where validating feelings ends and giving in begins. The second half turns to independence: a wardrobe and entryway your child can reach, a calming corner, and how much mess to accept.
Chapters
- 0:00 What mental health really means for young children
- 4:23 Three keys to mental health, starting with an attuned parent
- 8:16 When whining and clinging mean the thinking brain is offline
- 14:19 Co-regulation in a meltdown: let your child borrow your calm
- 18:12 Sportscasting and limits: why validating isn't permissive
- 25:59 Narrate your own feelings and teach emotions in calm moments
- 30:57 Emotion posters with four feelings and books about real life
- 35:38 How to set up a calming corner that isn't a time out
- 40:26 Why independence builds pride and executive function skills
- 44:48 Where to start: the things your child already wants to do
- 48:48 A wardrobe and entryway with two simple choices in reach
- 52:02 Show with slow hands and no words, then let it be messy
- 58:26 Practical life tasks to try and why 80 percent is enough
