Mental Health + Emotional Well-being for Families and Young Children

Today (Thursday, May 20) is the inaugural Mental Health Action Day! As an official partner, Too Small to Fail (TSTF), the early childhood initiative of the Clinton Foundation, is encouraging parents, caregivers, and our early childhood community to raise awareness and take action to support mental health and social-emotional wellness for families with young children. 

Did you know: adults and children have experienced sharp increases in mental health challenges as a result of the pandemic? A recent Kaiser Family Foundation study found about half of adults (47%) continue to report negative mental health impacts related to worry or stress from the pandemic, with women and younger Americans reporting the highest stress burdens. That’s more than double the pre-pandemic rate. 

Working moms have borne the brunt of homeschooling during the pandemic, causing additional stress and anxiety. More than half (54%) of mothers with children under 18 report pandemic-related stress had a negative effect on their mental health. One in five (21%) characterized that mental harm as “major.” A recent survey from the Pew Research Center indicated more than half (57%) of working mothers with children younger than 12 years old had experienced difficulties in handling child care responsibilities during the COVID-19 outbreak.    

We all face new challenges in this pandemic, and many of us might feel anxious or worried about the future. Nevertheless, there are things we can do to improve our own mental health and wellbeing, and support the emotional development of our young children, even during moments of change and uncertainty. Here are our top tips:

1. Check in with yourself. 

It’s important to take time for yourself, recharge your batteries, and understand when it may be time to reach out for additional help and support. 

• TSTF has developed this resource that offers practical ways to ‘care for your children and yourself’ as you navigate the pandemic and reopening. 
• Our partner, Mental Health Is Health, offers specific ideas to help each of us improve our own emotional well-being.
• Dr. Barry Zuckerman, pediatrician and founder of Reach Out and Read, has created a new app, Small Moments Big Impact, which focuses on postpartum emotional well-being. Through videos, journaling, and weekly content, the app supports parents as they navigate the first six months of their baby’s life. Download the free app here. 

2. Prioritize social-emotional development, from birth.

Parents and caregivers play an important role supporting young children’s social and emotional development, especially during moments of uncertainty. Talking, reading, and singing with your baby regularly from birth supports early brain and language development and builds important social-emotional skills.  

• Check out our featured tips, resources and videos to help parents and caregivers bond with their young children and boost early social-emotional development.
• Watch and share our recent Lunch & Learn webinar, co-hosted with Inclusion Matters, that explores common feelings of anxiety and isolation brought on by the pandemic, how to manage them, and where to find calm in chaos.  
• Read this “Parenting with a Big Heart” blog post by Too Small to Fail’s parent advisor Veronica Tapia who shares how she uses daily moments and conversations with her children to model how to express emotions in healthy ways. 
• Download this terrific resource from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), designed to help parents of young children manage stress and anxiety during and after COVID-19.  

3. Kindness counts.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve mood.” Being kind isn’t just the right thing to do, it is also good for our mental health.  

•  Together with the Born This Way Foundation, TSTF has developed this “Let’s Share Kindness” toolkit, full of great tips and activities to help families create a culture of kindness—both at home and in their community.
• Make time this month to spread kindness at home, in your organization, or within your community. We’ve created a calendar of great tips and activities to help inspire a month of kindness.

4. Spread smiles.

Our social media graphics can make everyone’s day a little brighter, with easy strategies to help young children develop empathy and kindness through everyday conversations, stories, and activities. You can share photos and stories using #BeKind21, #ChannelKindness or #MentalHealthAction.

5. If needed, find help for you and your loved ones in crisis.

If you are worried that you or a loved one might need additional support, please contact a medical professional or call 1-800-273-TALK(8255) for a free, confidential conversation. You can also visit www.mentalhealth.gov for free resources to help you get the support you need.