As no doubt many of you will be aware, this is Infant Mental Health Awareness Week.  Sure Start settings projects play an important role in fostering good mental wellbeing which is so important for children’s development, and I thought it timely to re-share a couple of resources developed which you might find useful to share with parents regarding the importance of supporting their child’s emotional development and well-being.

The NI Mental Health Champion, Professor Siobhan O’Neill recorded a short video last year aimed at parents of young children (approximately age 0-4, although not age specific).  She provides simple tips to parents/carers about what they can do to support their children’s emotional health and wellbeing, and talks about how to encourage young children to express their feelings and the importance of self-care for parents/carers.  She also draws on her experience as a parent of a young child – see link below:

Please also see the link below to an adapted version of the PHA’s ‘Take 5 steps to wellbeing’ message, which focuses on young children and gives parents ideas of simple things they can do at home with their child linked to the Take 5 steps.

https://gettingreadytolearn.co.uk/portal/parents/latest/article/Infant-Mental-Health-Awareness-Week/