Jan 23 min read

Children's Mental Health: 7 Practical Ways To Help Your Child Open Up And Share Their Feelings

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 1 in 5 children in Ontario face mental health challenges, and 70% of these challenges begin in childhood or teen years. Creating an open and safe environment where your child feels comfortable sharing their emotions is key to supporting their mental health.

As parents, we want to support our children through their emotional struggles and help them build strong mental health foundations. However, it can be challenging when your child isn’t opening up about their feelings. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 1 in 5 children in Ontario face mental health challenges, and 70% of these challenges begin in childhood or teen years. Creating an open and safe environment where your child feels comfortable sharing their emotions is key to supporting their mental health. This post explores children's mental health by providing 7 practical ways to help your child open up and share their feelings.

Understanding Children's Mental Health: 7 Practical Ways To Help Them Share Their Feelings

1. Create a Safe Environment For Sharing Feelings

The first step to helping your child open up is making sure they feel safe doing so. Let them know they can share their thoughts and emotions with you without fear of judgment or punishment. When your child feels safe and supported, they’re more likely to express their feelings openly.

2. Use Open-Ended Questions

Rather than asking simple yes/no questions, try asking open-ended questions to spark deeper conversations. For example, ask, "What was the best part of your day?" or "What’s been on your mind today?" Open-ended questions encourage your child to think more deeply about their emotions and provide more insight into their thoughts.

3. Validate Their Emotions

It's important to acknowledge your child’s emotions, even if you don’t fully understand them. Saying things like, “I can see why that made you upset,” or “It sounds like you’re feeling frustrated,” shows your child that their feelings are valid and heard. Avoid minimizing their emotions with phrases like, "It’s not a big deal." Validation helps build trust and makes it easier for your child to open up in the future.

4. Model Emotional Sharing

Children learn by example, so one of the best ways to encourage emotional openness is to model it yourself. Share your own feelings in an age-appropriate way. For example, you might say, "I felt frustrated today when I had a lot of things to do," or "I felt really happy when we were doing a puzzle together today." Showing your child that it’s okay to express emotions makes them feel more comfortable doing the same.

5. Offer Creative Outlets

Sometimes, children have difficulty expressing their emotions verbally. Encouraging activities like drawing, journaling, or storytelling can be helpful in giving them an outlet for their feelings. For younger children, you might suggest creating a "feelings chart" to visually represent their emotions. Creative outlets allow children to express themselves in ways that might feel safer or more comfortable than speaking.

6. Be Present and Available

Life is busy, but it’s important to set aside time each day for undistracted conversations with your child. Whether it’s during bedtime, a quiet moment in the car, or while taking a walk together, having dedicated time to connect can help your child feel heard and understood. Put away distractions like phones or television, and focus on being present during these moments.

7. Praise Their Efforts

When your child opens up about their feelings, praise them for their courage. Let them know how much you appreciate their willingness to share. Simple affirmations like, “I’m so proud of you for talking about this,” or “Thank you for sharing how you feel. It helps me understand you better,” encourage your child to continue expressing themselves. Positive reinforcement builds their confidence and strengthens your bond.

How Our Team Of Child and Youth Therapists Can Support Children's Mental Health

Creating an open and safe space for your child to share their feelings is one of the most powerful ways you can support their mental health. If you're finding it difficult to connect or need additional help, our team of child and youth therapists are available to work with you and your family. Together, we can explore emotional challenges and build stronger connections with your child, helping them navigate tough moments and develop healthy coping skills for the future. By implementing these strategies, you can help your child feel more comfortable expressing their emotions and improve their overall mental health. Contact us today to book a session with one of our experienced therapists. You can reach us at info@wellnesscc.ca or call 905-359-9456 or click on bio below to book online.