Prioritizing Mental Well-Being in Kids

By: Nikki Rapaport, Development Director - School Engagement American Heart Association, Miami

Before children are born, we worry about their health.  Does everything look healthy on the ultrasound? Am I making the right decision in choosing formula over breastfeeding? Are they eating enough vegetables?  Do they get enough exercise?  The lists of worries go on and on.  And while what our kids eat and how much they exercise are important for good health, another area we should focus on as parents is their mental wellbeing. 

Studies suggest mental health is important to overall health but what exactly is mental well-being? Mental well-being includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being.  It affects how we think, feel, and act and also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.  Stress may seem like something that children don’t deal with. However, childhood stress can be present in any setting that requires the child to adapt or change and is more common than we may think. 

By teaching our kids to cope with stress and prioritize their mental well-being at a young age, we can help them be healthier adults.  Here are 3 easy ways you can help your kids build healthy habits to improve their minds and their hearts: 

1. Teach your children to practice mindfulness by focusing on breathing.  In stressful situations, encourage them take a deep breath and close their eyes.  Practicing mindfulness has many benefits like improving sleep and attitude.

2. Help your kids be active every day. Exercise can relieve mental and physical tension. Find something they think is fun and stick with it.  Riding bikes, playing tag, or even a family dance party are fun ways to be active as a family.  

3. Slow down. Everything does not have to be done in a rush and you don’t have to commit to every little thing.  If you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed with your kids’ activities, there’s a good chance they are too.  Figure out what’s important and what brings your family joy and prioritize that.  

As we all know, it takes a village to instill healthy habits like this for our children.  That’s why the American Heart Association is working in schools across the nation to teach children about mindfulness and mental well-being.  Through the Association’s Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge programs, schools are equipped with

tools and activities to support both mental and physical well-being for students, families and staff.

Parents and schools in Miami who are interested in bringing the American Heart Association’s in-school programs to their children should visit www.heart.org/getstarted.