World Mental Health Day 2025: Why it’s important to always lend an ear to the child

More than grand gestures, a child’s mental well-being can be better assured through small, consistent moments of listening to what they want to say. Communication between parents and children is often subjective, which may happen regularly or occasionally. But when those conversations don’t take place at all, kids’ feelings and emotions may bottle up and lead to a sudden, dramatic outburst. Such tendencies usually become more apparent among children as early as Grade 4, when they may face behavioural concerns at home or in school. There is a distinct shift that starts to appear in their attitudes and interactions: mood swings, reckless behaviour and back-answering, among others. They tend to imitate behavioural patterns that they witness among friends and family, as well as what they consume through television and social media. Behind these behavioural changes, there is often a trace of unspoken emotions. These are all parts of their developmental journey that requires careful guidance and emotional support. Thus, communication is key here.

Parents must be more curious than corrective

For communication to truly work, it’s not enough to talk. Lending an ear to your child is equally important. Many parents unwittingly fall into the trap of ‘solving the problem’, before they even listen to what the child has to say. For instance, when a child says, “I’m scared about exams,” parents often respond, “Don’t worry, you’ll do fine.” But at that moment, more than reassurance the child needs someone to ask why they’re scared. Maybe, they’re struggling with a particular subject or feeling overwhelmed. Similarly, when a child says, “My friends left me out”, and parents respond, saying, “Just find new friends”, it can make the child feel like their pain isn’t taken seriously. 

True emotional support cannot be assured through quick fixes but via creating a safe space for your child. That’s why conversations about emotions should not happen only when something goes wrong. Parents must turn everyday moments into emotional check-ins with small conversations that build trust.

• Start a ‘feelings check’ at the dinner table or during bedtime by asking, “What was your happiest or toughest moment today?”

• Use stories or movies to talk about what the characters’ might be going through. That way, it becomes easier for children to relate indirectly.

• Share your own experiences. For instance, tell them that you ‘felt a bit stressed at work today, so I took a walk’. This will help children learn that mixed emotions are normal and can be managed in a healthy way. 

• Keep the tone curious, not corrective. Opt for questions that explore, rather than evaluate; make children feel safe to express themselves honestly.

Also read: UNICEF sounds alarm over childhood obesity; can CBSE’s ‘sugar board’ mandate help ease the crisis?

Creating a safe space for emotional well-being at school

While home remains the first place for emotional connection, schools play an equally crucial role in nurturing emotional resilience. The goal must be to help kids to manage their emotions in the right way, and at the same time express their thoughts effectively. Teachers should be trained to recognise early signs of emotional distress and provide support through regular classroom check-ins and sharing circles. Many schools are now adopting structured approaches to build these emotional skills early on.

At Orchids The International school, focus on emotional well-being is woven into everyday learning. The school conducts sessions that concentrate on social development and mindful communication. Each session is designed around a child’s social and emotional needs including engaging activities such as storytelling, debates, discussions, and art-based tasks. Children are guided not to body-shame or make derogatory comments about anyone’s appearance. Instead, they are encouraged to show kindness, acceptance and empathy. These creative exercises help children build emotional awareness, social skills and the confidence to express themselves thoughtfully.

Orchids offers structured NCERT solutions to support academic success

Consider listening as an ‘emotional first-aid’

The theme of World Mental Health Day 2025 underscores the importance of creating ‘access to services during catastrophes and emergencies’. It’s worth keeping in mind that for children, the best way to ensure access is by communicating with them everyday. At a time when children feel increasingly bogged down by academic stress, peer pressure and emotional insecurities, lending an ear to them has become more crucial than ever. Take it as an ‘emotional first-aid’ - a practice that requires you to patiently hear out. Remember before any therapist or counsellor can intervene, a child’s first line of support is usually a parent, who prefers to listen rather than fix.

(With inputs from Archana Padhye, Head of the Department - Children with Special Needs (CWSN) at Orchids The International School).