Mental strength is all about being aware of the way you think, act, and feel. Building your mental strength in thinking outside the box, feeling good, and being confident is a very important part of growing up. Kids need to partake in mental health exercises just like they would for their physical strength to ensure their mental health is at an all-time high growing up.
Self-Empowerment
When a kid feels like someone is having a better day than them or a worse day, it can affect how your child feels about themselves. They are giving someone else power over their emotions. A mentally strong kid does not depend on the behavior of others to feel good. You can work with your kid on phrases to say whenever they feel like giving their power over to someone else, such as “All I can do is my best” or “I choose to be happy today.” This will help drown out the negative voices that make them feel they lack the potential to succeed.
Adapting to Change
Change can be very tough, whether it is moving to a new town or a new school. Your kid may miss how things used to be, or they may fear their lives will be worse by this new change. Mentally strong kids understand that change is an important part of growing up and can be for the better. Kids who put a name to their emotions will lessen the sting of how they feel. When your kid is faced with a major change, have them talk about their feelings and help them find the right words to describe them, like if they are happy, sad, frustrated, and more.
Persistence Despite Failure
Failure can lead to kids feeling disappointment, embarrassment, and frustration. Kids need to keep in mind that the most accomplished people have had to fail many times before reaching their goals. It helps to know their success stories so that kids know they are not alone in their struggles. When your kid is feeling down about their failures, educate them on people who have been in the same boat. Your kid will feel confident going forward and realize that having one failure is not the end of the world. When your kids can handle the challenges life brings them at a young age, they will have a healthier mindset as an adult.
A child’s experiences and how they feel at a young age can affect the people they become when they are older. For kids to cope with life’s challenges, it is important as a parent to introduce your kids to life lessons when reality hits them hard. At Alta Loma, we understand the struggles of mental illness, and we are here to help you through them. Our transformative treatment center in Georgetown, Texas, can provide you with individualized therapy, family treatment, coping skills education, and much more. Please give us a call at (866) 457-3843 for more information.
