Five Hallmarks of Emotionally Healthy Children
Every child is unique, and their growth - whether physical, emotional, or intellectual - is a milestone. Raising emotionally healthy children requires a combination of patience, good judgment, and warm, nurturing relationships. To identify an emotionally healthy child, there are several factors to consider:
1. The child readily works on an emotional tasks that are age-appropriate - During early childhood care, it's important that children are provided opportunities to exercise their autonomy and initiative. Teachers and carers must be aware whether children are benefitting from these opportunities. While most children will achieve independence by generating their own ideas and imagination, some may need assistance to complete tasks. A strong bond between teachers and children is essential to help those who lack enthusiasm and to develop children's confidence.
2. The child is able to separate from the family without undue stress and form an attachment with at least one other adult at school. Most children make friends with their teachers first, especially the shy and young ones. While this friendship bond might not be as strong as their bond with their parents, it encourages children to explore and venture out in the school setting.
Teachers who are aware of this typical pattern can relax and enjoy the process without worrying about the child's dependency. Children who have good relationships with their teachers in pre-primary years tend to excel not just academically but also socially and emotionally in elementary school. Therefore, it's important for teachers to form healthy bonds with children, especially those who need special attention.
3. The child is learning to conform to routines at school without creating a fuss - Conforming to school routines varies with the child's age and temperament. Two-year-olds, for example, might insist that things should be done the same way every time and be less logical, while four-year-olds are generally more assertive and conform to rules set by the school. However, when a teacher observes that a child is refusing to conform to the rules persistently, it should be considered a warning sign, and help should be provided to work through the behaviour.
4. The child is able to deeply get involved in play - It's a sign of an emotionally healthy child when a teacher observes that a child is able to get involved wholeheartedly in play and participate in playing alone or with other children. When children are disturbed, they may not be able to get engrossed in play and cannot give themselves up to the experience of satisfying play.
5. The child is able to settle down and concentrate - While there may be several reasons why children are distracted or not paying attention - such as excitement, boredom, fatigue, illness, or hunger - these reasons are occasional, and eventually, children settle down. However, some children may never settle down, and the reason for this could be attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, birth injuries, poor habits, or tension caused due to stress in the family. At this point, it's the teacher's responsibility to intervene and provide proper guidance and counselling to the child so that they can overcome such stress and concentrate better.
Thus, identifying emotionally healthy children requires a holistic approach that takes into account their physical, emotional and intellectual development. Teachers and caregivers play a critical role in nurturing and supporting the emotional health of children, providing them with opportunities to develop important skills such as empathy, emotional regulation, and effective communication. By identifying and addressing any issues early on, we can ensure that children grow up to be emotionally healthy, resilient and successful adults.