Children's Behavioral Health

Children aren’t simply “little adults.” Their brains continue to grow and develop rapidly and are affected by many factors, especially family.

Children have unique needs when it comes to their behavioral health wellness and preventing mental illness. That’s why we recognize and support Children’s Behavioral Health Awareness during the month of May. 

Your children aren’t simply “little adults.”  Human development is marked by periods of rapid change, especially between birth and age six. Their brains continue to grow and develop rapidly and are affected by biological, social, and environmental factors, especially within the family system.  

There are ways to help your child develop emotionally, physically, and socially so they can learn to solve problems, cope with stress, develop motor skills, make friends, and express their feelings.

A big part of healthy child development is creating a positive relationship with them. You can do this by providing a safe and supportive place to talk and by spending quality time with them and having fun, with activities such as: 

• Playing or making music 
• Physical activity like walking, dancing, yoga
• Painting and drawing 
• Being outside and making art with nature 

It can be hard to detect when your child’s behavior becomes concerning. Typical childhood growth involves change and the symptoms of a condition vary with a child's age. Also, young children may not be able to express how they feel or explain why they are behaving in a certain way.

There are signs to be aware of when your child may be struggling and may need support, including:  

• Big changes in mood behavior 
• Isolating from those close to them 
• Increase in aggression / violent behavior 
• Significant change in sleep patterns
• School concerns (concentration, decrease in grades, not going to school)

These are just a few signs that your child may be struggling. If you have concerns, reach out to your provider to speak further about it. They can provide guidance and direct you to needed services such as individual and family therapy, along with medication management if needed. If thoughts of harm to self or others are expressed, and immediate support is needed, reach out to your local crisis team for additional support and guidance. 

Many thanks to our partners in healthcare at Community Health for providing this article. The author, Jenni-Lynn Fuoco, MSW, is a psychotherapist at Community Health Behavioral Health.