24 Positive Steps for Good Mental Health for Children

Media:
2.  Cut down on TV, movie and video game activity as much as  is possible.

3.  Take video games and television out of the bedrooms.

4.  Keep the computer in a public place in the house. and keep an eye on how much computer time is being spent and what sites. Talk to your children about it. It is not always necessary to have the Internet in  the home.

Professional help and education:
5.  Pursue tutoring, coaching, mentoring in school. Personal assistants also can be of help. Inquire about it.

6.  Pursue any other one on one programs in the public schools or public library such as reading tutoring that are available.

7.  Communicate with your children’s teachers regularly-visit often and attend  meetings.

Wholesome Recreation, Music and Art:
8.  Provide wholesome recreation for you children during the week and weekends.

9.  Consider enrolling your child in art lessons.

10. Buy how to books and supplies for your children on art and decorate your  home  likewise.

11. Try to weed out any comic books or games that have occult or spiritistic overtones, or that are violent. This is true also of music. Encourage lighter, mellower, music rather than  heavy alternative music, gothic, heavy metal, grunge, hard core, or  hard  rock with spiritistic influences.  Keep tabs on how much time is spent.

12. Get a pet or fishtank. (It teaches responsibility and giving, it’s a  nice hobby with nice lessons to be learned.)

13. Enroll your child in piano or violin lessons.

Discipline and Support:
14. Provide loving but firm discipline for your children.  Be consistent

15. Make sure your children have good companionship with suitable  friends.

16. Keep up on your child’s activities when they visit other children. Communicate with their friend’s parents about your child’s special needs.

17. Plan day trips to art museums, aquariums, zoos or places of historical interest.

Outdoor activities:
18. Exercise, walk, camp, hike, visit local parks or lakes for recreation.

Sleep and Precautions:
19. Make sure your child is getting to sleep at a regular and reasonable bed time and don’t resort to medicine to help him to sleep.(it can create a vicious cycle.)

Time and Love:
20.  Spend quality and quantity time with your child. Show lots of love and approval regularly.  Be patient with your child’s progress. Try not to be a perfectionist.

21.  Take personal responsibility for your decisions and actions.

22.  Keep well-informed and well read on everything involved with your child’s situation. Parents magazine often has good articles, as does Awake magazine, in addition to many books that have been written. Be selective in which books you read on this subject.

23. Care for your family’s spiritual needs. Read the Bible, Bible stories and pray with   your child. Teach  him to pray. Pray for your child.  Build a value system in your  child. Don’t let TV  teach life’s lessons to your child.

24. Keep hope alive and don’t give up. Your positive attitude will reflect in your  decisions and your dealings with your child.