by Ariana Hoet, Ph.D., and Whitney Raglin Bignall, Ph.D, Kids Mental Health Foundation
Since the pandemic, we continue to hear concerns about children and their mental health at school. These concerns include increased isolation, loneliness, feelings of anxiety, school avoidance, and a widening academic achievement gap.
One way to help protect children’s mental health this back-to-school season is by connecting. When children feel connected at school, their mental health improves by:
- Improving their grades/grades
- Building confidence
- Keeping them engaged
- Reducing risky behaviors (such as violence or substance use)
- Reducing loneliness, anxiety and depression
And both parents and teachers have a role to play in helping children feel connected and belong.
How parents can help connect the school
1. Show interest in your child’s school life
Ask your child how school is going and try to keep the questions open-ended rather than yes/no questions. You might ask who they spend time with at school and what they do together, what projects they are working on, or something fun they learned this week. Try to give the children your full attention so you can absorb what they are saying.
When you can, follow up a day or two later with a question about that group project, a test they’re preparing, or a teacher they like. This shows that you have listened and that you are interested in their school life.
2. Encourage school friendships
Relationships with others at school will help them feel like they are part of something bigger. Teach your children social skills (such as patiently waiting their turn or thinking about how someone else might feel); how to make new friendsand what healthy friendships look like. Talk about how they can make plans outside of school and how they can ask for parent contact information.
3. Get involved in the school community
Ask the school office or check the school website for an events calendar so you have the dates of breaks, conferences, events and other important dates. Show up at school as much as your schedule allows. Attend a curriculum night to meet their teacher, go to a play or concert after school, or volunteer at an event. When your schedule is tight, small actions like emailing the teacher to introduce yourself and find out what the class needs are can also go a long way.
How teachers can help create connection at school
1. Get to know each student
You can use opening class discussion to get to know the students in a group setting. Taking the time to greet them as an individual or ask them a follow-up question about something they’ve shared can give students a sense of importance and belonging.
2. Help children work together
When the students they feel closer to their peersthey will also have an increased sense of belonging and connection. Encourage them to get to know each other through projects or activities. As a teacher, you may notice when a student is left out or isolated. Supporting this student to find like-minded friends or observing their strengths through different classroom activities can have a significant impact on their mental health.
3. Set a positive vision
Your expectations for your students and how you share those expectations are important to their confidence and success. If you feel confident that they can do well in class and share the strengths you notice in them, students can feel welcome and accepted.
Find more ideas and free downloads for parents and teachers at KidsMentalHealthFoundation.org.
Ariana Hoet, Ph.D., is the executive clinical director of the Kids Mental Health Foundation and a child psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Dr. Hoet works at a Primary Care Center where she serves mostly Latino and Somali immigrant children.
Whitney J. Raglin Bignall, Ph.D., is the associate clinical director of the Kids Mental Health Foundation. Dr. Raglin Bignall works with families at a Nationwide Children’s Primary Care Center, which serves a predominantly low-income and racially diverse community.
The Kids Mental Health Foundation is the leading organization promoting mental health for children in the United States. To achieve its vision of building a world where mental health is a vital part of every child’s upbringing, more than 1,000 mental health professionals and researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, in collaboration with other trusted experts, provide real-world knowledge and expertise for Free educational videos, guides and Foundation curriculum.
