6-year-old girl stands in a field, ready to blow on a dandelion. Encouraging your child's social emotional development by supporting their mental health is crucial to their future well-being.

How to Support Your 6-Year-Old's Mental Health: Nurturing Social Emotional Development

Samantha Engel – Master of Arts in Teaching, Fairleigh Dickinson University

It's no secret that it is crucial to prioritize your child's mental health and social-emotional development. The early years are a critical period for building a solid foundation for your little one's overall well-being. By actively supporting your 6-year-old's mental health and fostering their social-emotional development, you can help them thrive and navigate life's challenges with resilience. Just be sure to keep a few things in mind!

  1. Encourage Open Communication - Creating a safe and open environment for your child to express their thoughts and feelings is vital for their mental health. Encourage regular conversations about their day, experiences, and emotions. Show genuine interest and listen attentively without judgment. Validate their feelings and help them understand that it's okay to experience a wide range of emotions. By fostering open communication, you can help your child develop a healthy emotional vocabulary and build trust in sharing their thoughts and concerns with you.
  2. Promote Play and Physical Activities - Play and physical activities play a crucial role in a child's social-emotional development. There are plenty of studies that show the links between staying active and mental health. Encourage unstructured playtime that allows them to explore their imagination, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Engage in activities such as drawing, building blocks, or playing pretend games together. Additionally, regular physical exercise helps release endorphins and reduce stress levels. Encourage outdoor play, sports, or simply dancing and jumping around. These activities promote positive self-esteem, enhance mood, and develop essential social skills through interactions with peers. Get some ideas on how to keep your child physically active here!
  3. Teach Problem-Solving and Coping Skills - Helping your 6-year-old develop problem-solving and coping skills equips them with valuable tools to manage challenges and setbacks. Encourage them to think critically and brainstorm solutions when faced with problems. Guide them through age-appropriate strategies like breaking down tasks into smaller steps or seeking help when needed. Teach relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or visualization to manage stress or anxiety. By empowering your child with effective coping mechanisms, you enhance their resilience and emotional well-being.
  4. Foster Positive Relationships -  Nurturing positive relationships with family members, friends, and peers contributes significantly to a child's social-emotional development. Encourage opportunities for your 6-year-old to interact and engage in cooperative play with others. Teach them empathy, kindness, and respect for others' feelings. Help them understand the importance of sharing, taking turns, and resolving conflicts peacefully. Regular social interactions foster a sense of belonging, build social skills, and support their emotional growth.
  5. Establish Consistent Routines and Boundaries -  Maintaining consistent routines and boundaries provides stability and a sense of security for children. Ensure they have a predictable daily schedule that includes adequate sleep, nutritious meals, and designated time for activities and relaxation. (You can learn more about the benefits of having consistent routines here.) Consistency in discipline and setting age-appropriate boundaries helps children understand expectations, promotes self-discipline, and reduces anxiety. Clear rules and consequences should be communicated calmly and consistently, focusing on positive reinforcement and logical consequences rather than harsh punishment.

Supporting your 6-year-old's mental health and social-emotional development is a continuous process that requires your active involvement and nurturing. By promoting open communication, encouraging play and physical activities, teaching problem-solving and coping skills, fostering positive relationships, and establishing consistent routines and boundaries, you can help lay a solid foundation for your child's well-being and future success.

Remember, each child is unique, so adapt these strategies to suit your child's individual needs, strengths, and personality traits. With your love, guidance, and support, you can empower your child to thrive both emotionally and mentally. If you're curious about learning new ways to support your child emotionally, check out our article, "6 Ways to Fill Your Child's Emotional Bucket".

Keep reading

  • Mother joins her child as she engages in an educational audio experience through Storypod.

    Breaking the Screen Habit: The Transformative Potential of Audio Learning for Kids

    In a world dominated by screens and digital devices, it's becoming increasingly challenging for parents to navigate the best educational experiences for their children, especially those in the critical developmental stages of ages 1-6. While technology undoubtedly offers many benefits, there's growing concern about the potential negative impacts of excessive screen time on young minds. This concern has sparked a resurgence in the popularity of screen-free learning approaches, with a particular focus on the power of audio learning.

    read more
  • 7 Summertime Adventures and Activities for Kids and Families to Enjoy

    7 Summertime Adventures and Activities for Kids and Families to Enjoy

    It’s summertime! With your little ones out of school for the season, keeping them entertained and learning for months on end may seem like a daunting task. Here at Storypod, we understand. As financial stressors continue to be felt by families across the globe and many exhausted parents are struggling to navigate year 3 of the pandemic, we’re here to shine the light on some clever, budget-friendly, and easy adventures and activities!

    read more
  • The Pandemic Has Changed Children’s Learning Culture

    The Pandemic Has Changed Children’s Learning Culture

    As we navigate a constantly changing world together, especially with the extensive cultural changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to provide young children with as much support as possible, especially with Social-Emotional Learning.

    read more
  • The Benefits of Spontaneous Family Dance Parties!

    The Benefits of Spontaneous Family Dance Parties!

    We all know that those little wiggle worms like to boogie down to a good tune. We do too. But did you know that taking the initiative to bring spontaneous family dance parties into your little one’s life has all kinds of benefits?

    read more
  • What is “Social-Emotional Learning”?

    What is “Social-Emotional Learning”?

    Children think and learn better when they are well regulated and competent in social-emotional skills. Focusing on SEL at home and at school yields positive outcomes in adulthood. Caregivers can help their children build social-emotional competence by recognizing and addressing their children's cues and by meeting their emotional needs.

    read more
  • Nurturing the Whole Child

    Nurturing the Whole Child

    American education was established long before the study of human development surfaced. It was not until recent decades that research began exploring connections between children’s academic, social-emotional, and cognitive development as well as physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing.

    read more