PIC Welcome Committee News: Early Childhood Mental Health – It’s Never Too Early to Start Intervention!

Mental Health Starts in the Womb

Mental health is a very important and pervasive concept in today’s world, often highlighting its importance during teenage years, and into adulthood/end of life.  In our line of work, we understand that not only does mental health affect us at these ages, but we see mental health affecting those we service: the birth – 5 years population and even our pregnant women.

“Pregnant people coming in with a history of trauma, with depression, anxiety, other mood disorders, have children that show differences in their brain structure and chemistry, at one year, at 18 months, at three, at five years. When an infant is born to a mother who has a huge and regular increase in cortisol and other stress hormones, that affects that infant’s brain chemistry – they also then come into this world with an increase in cortisol, affecting the formation of their amygdala and other brain structures.”   – Mental Health in the Earliest Years of Life | ZERO TO THREE

This is signifying that not only does an unborn child take in the nutrients and other things taken into the mother’s body, but the child can be impacted by the mother’s mental health and environmental stimuli while in the womb, which can contribute to mental health concerns and processing after birth.  Within the first five years of life, a child is growing and developing (both developmentally and mentally) rapidly, which shows that these years are the most crucial in order to keep children on track.  “Young children can – and do – experience serious mental health conditions caused by trauma, neglect, biological factors, or environmental stressors, which threaten their development. By supporting babies and parents who are at risk of mental health challenges, we can promote strong mental health from the beginning.” – Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health | ThinkBabies.org | Think Babies™

This is not to say that mental health problems do not develop if a child grows up in a nurturing environment, as that does happen; however, this is why it is so important that we keep in mind early detection for mental health and developmental concerns through looking at protective and risk factors while a mother is pregnant and after she gives birth.

What does PIC – Head Start/Early Head Start do for children and families in terms of mental health and access to help?

Our program can provide agency referrals and guidance from our Family Wellness Consultant.  He can provide resources and options to assist families as a whole, with the help that they need in the mental health field. 

In addition, our program aids children in social-emotional capacity through a variety of curriculums utilized by the teaching staff and supporting staff, such as PBIS, Al’s Pals, Bouncy (in Beaver County), Incredible Years, and the Zones of Regulation, among other individualized efforts of fostering a social-emotionally competent environment.

Self-Care for the Caregiver

Self-care for caregivers of toddlers with mental health issues involves prioritizing your own physical and mental well-being by utilizing support systems like respite care and support groups, practicing stress-reduction techniques such as mindfulness and exercise, nurturing personal relationships, maintaining healthy habits, and seeking professional help when feeling overwhelmed to prevent burnout and model healthy behaviors. 

The nature of being a caregiver is to be concerned about the health and wellness of others, but it should not come at the expense of self-care.  It is important to take care of yourself by getting enough sleep, eating right, exercising, taking time out for yourself, and seeking professional help if needed.

Manage Stress & Emotions 

• Mindfulness & Breathing: Practice deep, mindful breathing or meditation for even a few minutes to reduce stress and reset.
• Exercise: Engage in enjoyable physical activity, which can make challenges feel more manageable and provide a self-healing outlet.
• Hobbies & Pleasure: Dedicate time to activities you love, as these can provide joy, keep you present, and offer something to look forward to.
• Positive Self-Talk: Replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations, and remember it’s okay to take breaks. 

Maintain Physical Well-being 

• Prioritize Sleep: Aim for sufficient sleep, as it’s crucial for your physical and mental restoration.
• Healthy Nutrition: Fuel your body with well-balanced meals.
• Share the Load: Delegate tasks or politely decline extra responsibilities to lighten your physical and mental burden. 

Recognize Burnout Signs 

• Watch for Symptoms: Be aware of signs of depression or anxiety, such as crying often, feeling lonely, anger, extreme tiredness, or hopelessness.
• It’s Not Selfish: Taking care of yourself is essential to being the best caregiver you can be; it’s like putting on your own oxygen mask first. 

 Resources:

What Can Help Caregivers Deal with Burnout? – Families for Depression Awareness

Self-Care for Caregivers of Children with Mental Health Diagnoses – The Kids Mental Health Foundation

Caregiver Burnout: Why Self-Care Is Essential to Parenting – Child Mind Institute

Mental Health Resources for Families

Family Resource Center – Child Mind Institute

Tips for Providing a secure and responsive environment

Respond consistently: 

Be attentive to a child’s cues and respond with care to their needs, whether they are crying, cooing, or gesturing, as this builds neural connections. There is no such thing as spoiling a baby. They learn to trust us when we are consistent in caring for their needs. Attention is needed and if we aren’t consistent with our attention, it often leads to behaviors that are challenging and not appropriate.

Offer comfort and support: 

Provide a calming presence and comfort when a child is stressed or overwhelmed, which helps them learn to manage their own emotions.  If they continue to see the adults in their lives melt down and not be in control of their own emotions, this is how they learn to react as well. When they are shouting, try to soothe them with a quiet voice, a whisper can go a long way, especially when they know the shouting is causing a reaction in us.

Establish routines: 

Predictable schedules and routines create a sense of security that empowers children to explore their world. We can help families with daily routine schedules.

Tips to Teach emotional literacy

Name feelings: 

Help children identify and name their emotions by saying things like, “I see you are feeling frustrated” or “That’s right, that is a picture of you!”.  Early head start visitors have picture cards and emotion pillows to help children identify their emotions. In the classroom we ask our children to tell us or show us how they feel. We have many activities and interactive resources on the smart board that allow them to learn how to express their feelings appropriately.

Discuss emotions: 

Talk about feelings in a non-judgmental way and use stories, pictures, and daily interactions to help them understand different emotions. 

Model healthy responses: 

Show children how to manage emotions by modeling calm and empathetic behaviors yourself, such as when you share with others or resolve a conflict. 

 Tips for Fostering social skills

Engage in “serve and return” interactions: 

Participate in back-and-forth exchanges where you respond to a child’s sounds, gestures, and actions. This reciprocal communication is crucial for building social skills. It’s important to remember that even though they may not have the language skills needed to engage in conversation, our infants and toddlers understand what we are saying to them. It could even be a simple request like “look at Daddy” if the child is an infant. These exchanges build the pathways for crucial neurological development.

Encourage empathy:

Model caring behaviors and teach children to consider the feelings of others. Praise when we see our children looking out for one another or showing they care when they see a friend sad.

Support peer relationships:

Create opportunities for children to interact with peers and help them navigate friendships and share with others. Early Head start provides opportunities for our families to engage in social situations during the program year with weekly socials and community outings. We often focus on social emotional skills, like sharing, taking turns, making friends, etc. Look for socialization in your community. Many Public Libraries offer Storytime sessions that are free to attend. Head start has program events throughout the year with activities structured to social emotional growth.

By:  PIC Welcome Committee: Lily Formosa, Angela Krch, Brandy Kurutz, Arielle Marshall