Lesson 5.3: Mental Health and Wellness
Lesson Summary
This lesson focuses on infant and childhood mental health and wellness.
Key Understandings
Parents understand the importance of establishing a healthy foundation for their child, including establishing a positive environment.
BEFORE: Engage in Learning
Families play a crucial role in supporting the social and emotional development of their young children. Early experiences matter—a lot. In the first years of life, more than 1 million new neural connections are formed every second.
Infant and early childhood mental health
Watch the video on Social-emotional learning at home.
Dr. Jerome (Jerry) Schultz, Ph.D., will share some fun social emotional learning activities you can do to support your child's emotional health.
DURING: Explore new concepts
Children's Mental Health
Babies who engage with responsive, consistent, nurturing caregivers and who are living in safe and economically secure environments are more likely to have strong emotional health.
Review the document below, which provides information on children's mental health and how parents can support their child at home.
Handout Mental-health-family-tips.pdf5 Things to Know about Mental Wellness in Early Childhood
AFTER: Extend your learning
Handout SEL Activity.pptxSocial and Emotional Activities
This document includes games that you can play with your child to support their emotional health.
Try one of the games with your child!
Exit Ticket: Final Reflection
As you watch the video, reflect on the following questions:
What is 1 thing you learned in this lesson?
How can you apply this with your child at home?
Share your reflection with the other participants in your local program.
Check for Understanding: Unit 5 Assessment
At the end of every unit of instruction, you will take a few minutes to answer a couple of questions that will check your understanding on the lessons you have completed.
You have completed four lessons in Unit 5:
Lesson 5.1: Children's Health and Safety, Part 1
Lesson 5.1: Children's Health and Safety, Part 2
Lesson 5.2: Nutrition
Lesson 5.3: Mental Health and Wellness
Your instructor will share a link with the 2-3 questions you will answer.