Mental Health for your children

            Even if the goal is academic, when we teach young people emotional skills, social                skills, we see better mental health.   Shimi Kang
       If we want our children to succeed in life, there are social and emotional skills we must teach them. As parents and caregivers, our time is important, but taking time to help children learn to control and use their feelings and emotions properly in society is worth every minute of our time.  This generation is growing up with tech time, but not parent time.
         Children who grow up feeling like they can't do things, are not good enough or that they are not worth anything experience mood swings, loss of pleasure and poor concentration.  These feelings are made worse by a tech-based society in which children experience social isolation and disconnection.
          Impulse control is one of the skills with which we can help our children. "Mastery of impulse is all about self-discipline and choice. The mind is a powerful tool with which we have the ability to be in control of ourselves," says Alaric Hutchinson. 
       Children need balance in their lives which parents and caregivers can give.  Creating routines, providing the right amount of nourishment in the form of fruits and vegetables with fewer calorie-rich snacks, limiting the amount of time children are on screen, providing time for physical activity, enough sleep for their age, and family time, especially at meals help children to know who they are and their place in the family as well as society. Communication and conversations are needed for children to grow successfully, to feel good about themselves  and to achieve in their studies.
      Suggestion:  Make time to listen to your children.