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Head Start programs support the mental health of children, families, and staff every day. Early childhood mental health is the same as social and emotional well-being. It is a child’s developing capacity to express and regulate emotions, form trusting relationships, explore, and learn—all in the cultural context of family and community. The mental health of children and the adults that care for them is essential for school readiness.
This tip sheet for families explores how mental health consultants help adults build strong relationships with children. Consultants can help families address concerns about children's social-emotional development.
Explore this series of four tips sheets that is aimed at families seeking to promote positive behaviors in their child.
Taking care of yourself is important for responding well to a child’s challenging behavior.
Head Start programs are increasingly involved in efforts to assist adult family members in gaining parenting skills that can both promote positive social-emotional development and prevent challenging behaviors. In recent years, a number of formal parenting curricula have been developed and researched. We have identified five such programs with promising effects.
Biting is a common but upsetting behavior of toddlers. It is important for parents to address biting when it occurs. This fact sheet provides tips for parents and program staff on how to better understand issues around biting.
Share these posters with families to help them identify daily routines and learn how to increase positive social and emotional support throughout the day.
All young children benefit when their caregivers are healthy and not too stressed or depressed. Explore practical tools to help caregivers build positive relationships with their infants, toddlers, and preschoolers and reduce stress.
Use these posters to support families with infants. Share tips for how parents can support infants' social and emotional development.
Use these posters to support families with toddlers. Share these tips for how parents can to help them support toddlers' social and emotional development.
Use this resource to help build parent and staff capacity in using books and stories for helping young children learn, manage strong emotions, deal with feelings of grief, or work on their social skills.