Keeping Children Emotionally Healthy

Children’s emotional health is reflected by their ability to cope with the world around them. Children have a greater chance of being emotionally healthy when they have consistently supportive parents who help them to develop trust in their world. This sense of trust continues to develop as they interact with the world, and gradually learn how people can relate to each other in positive ways. Much of this learning comes from observing parents, caregivers or siblings, and testing out behaviours, which may or may not be met with the approval of the significant people in their lives.

Parents have an important role in influencing healthy social, emotional and sexual development in their children. By recognizing that children progress through normal developmental stages, parents can learn to anticipate and deal with the questions and behaviours that accompany these stages. Ultimately, an emotionally well-adjusted child is more likely to have success and happiness later in life.