This month’s Mental Health newsletter is about checking in with your child. All of us are busy with the daily tasks of life; balancing the countless day to day responsibilities of work, school, and home can be stressful and overwhelming. Sometimes adding just one more thing seems impossible. However, regularly checking in with your child or teen often means recognizing when they need help before mental health challenges become serious. Early intervention is key in helping kids manage mental health challenges and preventing secondary challenges from occurring.

Checking in is as easy as starting a conversation. It doesn’t have to be lengthy (although it may be) and it doesn’t have to be about heavy, difficult topics. Just start with something simple like:

• What is the best thing that happened to you today?
• Tell me something that made you laugh today.
• What’s the weather inside your heart and head today… Sunny?  Partly cloudy? Stormy? Tell me why.

Make a commitment to check in with your young person consistently. Print out the steps below and then put it somewhere you will see and remember to take a few minutes to connect with your kiddo.

HOW TO CHECK IN WITH YOUR CHILD

1. 1.        Make it a habit.

Create a routine for check-ins such as every day on the way home from school, or every evening at bedtime.

1. 2.        Set aside 10-15 minutes and get rid of distractions.

Phones, TV, or other electronic devices need to be turned off and out of reach.

1. 3.        Ask open ended questions rather than questions that require a yes or no answer.

Examples of open ended questions are listed above and encourage your child to open up and share what is going on in their life.

1. 4.        Listen – with your ears, your eyes, and your heart.

Be present and attentive. Don’t offer a response until they fully express their thoughts and ideas.

1. 5.        Problem solve together.

Help them come up with ideas for things like managing their emotions, how to make the next day better, or who and how to ask for help when needed.

Checking in is both easy and worthwhile. It provides an opportunity for parents, guardians, and caregivers to assess the well being of their kids as well as strengthening their relationship. Nothing can be better than that. If you have concerns about your child’s mental health, contact their primary health care provider, a professional mental health counselor, or their school counselor.

Deborah Godbold

SCSD Mental Health Counselor

386-647-4619

deborah.godbold@suwannee.k12.fl.us