Advice for Parents & Carers (5-11 years)

As your child navigates the primary school years, they will experience significant growth and development in many areas of their life. It’s important to understand that this can be an emotional and challenging time for them. As a parent, your love and support are crucial in helping your child build a strong foundation for their mental health and wellbeing. However, we understand that at times, it can be overwhelming for both you and your child. It’s okay to feel uncertain and worried about your child’s emotional state. By continuing to develop a strong relationship with your child and providing them with the tools to manage their emotions, you can help them thrive and succeed in the future.

You and Your Child’s Relationship

• You are one of the most important people in your child’s life and your relationship will mean you can heal together.
• Take some time each day to play and talk. It has been scientifically proven that play helps to calm children. If your child is older, try to spend time with them doing something they enjoy.
• Find ways for them to relax, if possible daily, e.g. listen to music, having a bath, having a bedtime story.
• Acknowledge your child’s feelings, even if you think their worries are trivial, to them they are very important.
• Give your child affirmations even if their behaviour is challenging, ‘I’m glad you are here.’ ‘I like who you are.’ This is to remind them that you love them no matter what.

How Can You Help Your Child?

• Listen to them, you must be ready to listen to them when they are ready to talk as this could be at any moment.
• Talk to them when they are ready, either verbally or via drawings, paintings, or play dough. Children may act out to get your attention if they feel unheard or confused.
• Acknowledge that it may be difficult or scary for them to talk to you about what happened and how they feel. This is important because once they start talking about it, it becomes less scary for them.
• Be patient! If they do not want to talk don’t push them.
• Be kind! Respond with kindness rather than with negative emotions.
• Have clear and consistent routines at home, e.g. at bedtime have a specific order that things are done, and ensure bedtime is around the same time every day.
• If you cannot talk to your child or they won’t talk to you, try to find another safe adult they trust, e.g. a teacher, or another family member.
• Set boundaries around screentime usage to aid sleep, personal interactions and general wellbeing.

How Can You Help Yourself?

• Don’t be too hard on yourself if your child is having problems. Even though it can be worrying and more challenging to support your child if they are having a bad time you need to remember that you are not a bad parent and that your support will help them heal.
• Often children will express their negative emotions towards those that are closest to them, so you may be experiencing the full force of their big emotions. Remember the love and care you show them will help them heal during this time.
• Make sure you take time to calm your own emotions before responding to a situation with your child. Take a deep breath and a moment to think about what you are going to do and say before you react.
• Remember to keep adult issues to adults, If you find you are struggling with things yourself find another adult that you can talk to and that can give you support. This could be a friend, your partner, a member of staff at your child’s school or your GP.
• Self care for YOU! The more you can stay regulated, the more you will be able to help your child.

Giving Your Child An Outlet for Their Feelings

Below are some ideas for activities you can do with your child to help them express and explore their feelings. These activities can be tailored to all different age groups, where possible use your individual child’s interests to personalise the activities.