As parents and carers, we play a crucial role in nurturing your child’s emotional and mental wellbeing. At our nursery, we understand how important it is for children to feel secure, loved, and supported in their early years. We aim to create a foundation for emotional growth, and we believe that this extends to the home environment as well. Below are some simple, practical ways you can support your child’s wellbeing at home, including tips for self-regulation and emotional support.
1. Create a Safe and Predictable Routine
Children thrive in environments where they know what to expect. Having a predictable routine at home helps them feel safe and secure. It also provides them with a sense of control, which can reduce anxiety and tantrums.
Tip: Set up a flexible daily schedule that includes time for meals, play, learning, and rest. Let your child know what comes next in their day, and use visual cues like a simple chart or pictures to help them understand.
Much like we do in our nurseries, where routines are carefully structured to help children transition smoothly between activities, you can build a comforting rhythm that offers both consistency and predictability at home.
2. Encourage Emotional Expression
It's important to create a space where your child feels comfortable expressing their emotions. Acknowledging how they feel, whether happy, sad, angry, or frustrated, shows them that it’s okay to experience a wide range of emotions.
Tip: Use simple phrases like, "I can see you're feeling upset" or "It's okay to feel angry sometimes." This helps your child understand their emotions and feel supported. Encourage them to use words to express how they feel, and offer comfort when necessary.
At Rosedene, we offer children opportunities to explore and express their emotions through activities like storytelling, role-play, and gentle conversations. We create safe spaces where children can feel heard and understood, which you can replicate at home by providing a similar environment of open communication.
3. Teach Self-Regulation Through Calmness
Self-regulation is an important skill that helps children manage their feelings, behaviors, and reactions to situations. Teaching self-regulation at home can make a big difference in how your child responds to stress or frustration.
Tip: Practice deep breathing with your child. A simple exercise like “smell the flowers, blow out the candles” (inhale deeply through the nose, exhale through the mouth) can help your child calm down in moments of stress. You can also introduce "quiet time" or "cool-down corners" where your child can go to calm themselves when they feel overwhelmed.
Just as we integrate self-regulation techniques into our daily activities at Rosedene, we help children recognise when they need a moment to pause and reset. By doing this at home, you are reinforcing these valuable skills that your child can rely on in challenging situations.
4. Promote Healthy Habits for Physical Wellbeing
A child's physical health directly influences their emotional and mental wellbeing. Proper sleep, nutrition, and physical activity are essential for maintaining balance and promoting positive behavior.
Tip: Ensure your child has a regular bedtime routine that promotes relaxation, such as reading a bedtime story or listening to calming music. Provide healthy snacks and meals to support their energy levels, and make time for outdoor play to encourage movement and fresh air.
At our nurseries, we prioritise physical activity as part of the children's daily routine, helping them build strength and resilience while also promoting their emotional wellbeing. Encourage regular outdoor playtime at home to keep them physically active, which also supports their mental clarity and emotional balance.
5. Model Positive Coping Strategies
Children learn by watching their parents. If they see you handling stress in a healthy way, they are more likely to develop similar coping strategies.
Tip: Share your own feelings with your child and demonstrate how you cope with challenges. For example, “I’m feeling frustrated, so I’m going to take a few deep breaths to calm down” or “I’m going to take a short break to gather my thoughts.”
At Rosedene, we model positive coping strategies in the nursery settings by showing children how to manage stress and frustration, you can do the same at home. Children often mimic what they observe, so by demonstrating healthy responses to tough situations, you’ll be teaching them valuable life skills.
Supporting your child’s wellbeing at home is all about creating a safe, structured environment where they can freely express themselves and learn positive coping strategies. By teaching your child self-regulation, acknowledging their emotions, and encouraging healthy habits, you are giving them the tools they need to navigate the world with confidence and resilience.
At Rosedene, Wellbeing is at the Heart of Everything We Do
We don’t just focus on the wellbeing of the children in our care—we also prioritise the wellbeing of our teams. Our Wellbeing Programme enables us to integrate practices that support both our staff and the children, creating a positive and nurturing environment all around. This programme includes wellbeing walks, tips for managing stress at work and home, treats and positive affirmations, and team-building/wellbeing events.
We understand that when our staff feels supported and valued, they can, in turn, provide the best possible care for your child. Wellbeing is a huge focus at Rosedene, and we are committed to helping our teams and families thrive, both mentally and physically. By fostering a culture of care and support, we aim to provide a foundation for growth and resilience for all who are part of the Rosedene family.
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