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Behavioral & Mental Health

Mental Health and Wellness at Head Start

Heart


A woman laughs joyously in a café. A man cries at the end of a sad movie. A toddler whines as she looks for her favorite toy. Happiness... sadness... frustration... these are all emotions that are regularly experienced by everyone from infants to the elderly. Emotions are shaped by our biology and environment, and how we think, feel, and act is shaped by mental health. What does mental health mean for a child? A Head Start staff member? A family unit?

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as a "state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community." WHO's definition of mental health aligns with many of the goals of Head Start programs around the country.

Building Social Skills in Young Children

Preschool

Social Skills are behaviors that promote positive interactions among people.  Some examples of important social skills for young children are sharing, taking turns, cooperating, and communicating clearly.

Not surprisingly, children who have poor social skills often have a hard time getting along with other children.  Fortunately, daily opportunities can be created to help strengthen these skills in children.

  • Practicing social skills is a way to work on specific aspects of social interactions.  For example, if you notice a child stands too close to peers or has difficulty getting a classmate’s attention; help them learn about personal space or conversational skills through role play in the classroom, or at home.  Create stories to help teach these skills.
  • While reading books, ask children many questions about how the characters may be feeling and why.  Ask the children what someone in the story could do to make a character feel better.
  • Use puppets, dolls, stuffed animals, and play figurines as props to help demonstrate and teach social skills.  You can use the props to help discuss frequent classroom issues or to help children discuss an individual problem.
  • Set up play situations that give practice in turn-taking.  Going to a restaurant, grocery store, or the movies are examples of activities in which we may have to wait in line.

 Resources:  CSEFEL-http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu

Pathways to Play, Heidemann, S. & Hewitt, D. (1992)

Social and Emotional Development, Riley, D., San Juan, R.R., Klinker, J., & Ramminger, A. (2008)