There are a number of proven ways to help with mental wellbeing. For example, physical activity in nature, gratitude exercises and mind-calming exercises are good for the human mind.
You can teach your child mental wellbeing skills, e.g. by using the free-of-charge Kids’ Skills mobile app developed by psychologist Ben Furman. The app, available in English and Finnish, will introduce you to a method for learning skills with your child through positive collaboration. The new skills and the sense of achievement that they bring will boost the child’s self-esteem and, by extension, their mental wellbeing.
Download Kids' Skills for Android(Link leads to external service)
Download Kids' Skills for iPhone (Link leads to external service)
Mental health can be improved (Mieli ry)
The animation by Mieli ry summarises different ways of strengthening our mental health. You can show this to your child to support your suggestions for practicing mental wellbeing skills.
Greeting others in a friendly manner is an everyday skill that has a positive effect on the mind. You can greet someone in a friendly way by shaking their hand, hugging them or asking them how they are, for example. When people show interest and attention towards each other, they also contribute to each other’s wellbeing.
For example, you can teach your child how people greet each other in different cultures, encourage them to ask each other how they are doing, or think about what they could say to another person to make them happy after greeting them.
Show your child how to boost your mood by doing good deeds. Such deeds can be caring for animals and plants, visiting the grandmother or picking up litter from the local environment, for example.
Encourage your child to do different kinds of good deeds. How could they make their friend or sibling happy, for example?
Learning any skill gives a person joy. Your child can get the joy of success from activities such as exercise, baking, drawing, playing music or learning another language.
Is there perhaps something that not even you have tried before? For example, could you go wall climbing or kayaking together, practise Chinese characters or fold colourful origami?
Find ideas on our Find Hobbies website(Link leads to external service)
Research shows that gratitude is an emotional skill that can increase a person's happiness. You can practise the skill yourself and teach it to your child. For example, in the evenings, write down or recount with your child all the good things that happened over the course of your day.
Optimism, i.e. positive thinking, is linked to happiness. For some people it is innately easier than for others. Fortunately, it is also a skill that can be practised.
You can help your child develop positive thinking by setting an example and by consciously practising adopting a positive perspective on things together with your child.
You can also try to think of positive consequences for a bad situation as part of an imagination game. Alternatively, if something unpleasant happens in everyday life – a milk carton falls over – you can have fun together thinking about what kind of joy can come from spilt milk.
Children love to get silly! Try being silly together, acting, telling jokes, tickling, pranks, pillow fights or whatever works for you together.
The ability to laugh and have fun is an innate skill, but it can also be practised. You may need to challenge yourself if getting silly has not been very natural for you in recent years. Maybe this could be a skill that your child teaches you?
One factor of happiness is the ability to feel the joy of success. Pay attention to your child’s successes, no matter how minor. For example, you can give your child a thumbs up or a high five every time they do something well. Also, praise yourself out loud when you succeed.
When the child learns to notice their own successes, you can continue practising the skill by talking with them about their successes. Ask:
- how the child can explain their success
- who or what helped or inspired them to succeed
- who the child could share the joy of their success with.
Nature has significant positive effects on mental health and happiness. Teach your child to enjoy being in nature, e.g. by going on suitably long nature hikes or tending plants in a garden together. A visit to an animal farm is also usually a treat for the mind.
Accessible outdoor hiking routes (Luontoon.fi)(Link leads to external service)
Relaxation, calming down, meditation, prayer, yoga, Tai Chi, mindfulness, hypnosis, neurobiofeedback – calming the mind comes in many forms and is known by many names. In all of its forms, it promotes health, improves brain function and increases happiness.
See calming exercises for kids (Childline)(Link leads to external service)
Exercise and physical exertion in general promote psychological wellbeing. You can increase your child’s happiness by providing them with opportunities for physical activity. All physical activity increases wellbeing, whether the activity be climbing, hiking, ball games, swimming, gymnastics, cycling or something else.
Team sports have the added advantage of developing the children’s social skills at the same time.
It is great if you can get your child excited about a form of exercise that you yourself enjoy. However, this does not always work. If that is the case, give your child space to find their own interests and encourage them to pursue them.
Learn more about sports at school age
Go to Sports and recreation: Children and families(Link leads to external service)
Seek help early
If your family’s own coping strategies are not enough, seek support from healthcare professionals together with your child.
For pre-schoolers help is best available through your child health clinic or by contacting social counselling for families with children. You can also turn to health care professionals at our health stations.
If your child is of school age, the best support is usually available through the school’s pupil welfare services. You can find the contact details on your child’s school website. You can also contact social counselling for families with children if needed, and receive services and guidance tailored to your family’s everyday life.
