Early Learning Project
April 20, 2005Young Children's Mental Health Samantha Wulfsohn
Erikson Institute
Introduction to the Topic
Early Childhood Mental Health
Within the last decade, the early childhood field has started to develop an interest in the mental health of young children. Researchers and advocates agree on the importance of young children's mental health to their overall development. In fact, children whose mental health needs are not met are at increased risk for significant impairment at home, with their peers, in school and in the community. This is especially relevant in light of the recent research on the importance of early brain development for later functioning. Moreover, evidence about how stress can negatively impact young children's development further demonstrates the importance of considering mental health in the early years.
Infant and early childhood mental health refers to children's healthy emotional development and social competence. This includes the way that children relate to others, how they feel about themselves, and how they manage emotions and impulses. The earliest experiences in life can set the stage for age-appropriate social-emotional development. Nurturing and positive relationship with parents or caregivers, safe and stable environments, and overall supportive emotional experiences are all important aspects of these early experiences. However, for some children these early experiences are problematic, resulting in social and emotional delays. Early warning signs of mental health concerns vary dramatically for children according to the child's temperament, environment, and age. For younger children, relationships with their caregivers and peers may be problematic. Additionally, some children may exhibit extreme aggression and emotional dysregulation, while others may be sad, withdrawn, or unengaged with others.
For these young and vulnerable children it is imperative that we address concerns as early as possible to prevent problems from becoming extreme. Services for young children with mental health concerns should adopt a prevention and family-centered focus with the goal of strengthening parent-child relationships and promoting children's social and emotional skills.Online Resources
- Your Child's Mental Health: What's Up Doc?
Mental health is how we think, feel, and act. It's common for children to feel sad or to behave badly from time to time; however, if you see troubling behaviors that seem persistent and severe, it's time to take action.
http://www.nkhs.org/documents/YOURCHILDSMENTALHEALTH-WHATSUPDOC.pdf - Does My Child Have an Emotional or Behavioral Disorder?
Among all the dilemmas facing a parent of a child with emotional or behavioral problems, the first question-whether the child's behavior is sufficiently different to require a comprehensive evaluation by professionals-may be the most troublesome of all. Often the first indications that an infant may be experiencing significant problems will be delays in normal development.
http://www.pacer.org/ebd/ebdart.asp - Treatment of Children with Mental Illness
This fact sheet addresses common questions about diagnosis and treatment options for children with mental illnesses.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/treatment-of-children-with-mental-illness-fact-sheet/index.shtml - Early Child Development in Social Context: A Chartbook
This 115-page report reviews 33 indicators of intellectual, social, and emotional development for children up to age 6. The report also discusses indicators of children's health and family and neighborhood characteristics that affect children's readiness for school.
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/usr_doc/ChildDevChartbk.pdf - Learning from Families: Identifying Service Strategies for Success. Systems of Care: Promising Practices in Children's Mental Health, 2001 Series (Vol. 2)
This book discusses systems of care serving very young children and their families that are finding innovative and effective ways to design and deliver services.
http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED470529.pdf - Depression in Children and Adolescents
Depression is a disorder characterized by a persistent depressed (sad) mood that may last months or even years. It can occur at any age through the lifespan.
http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Illnesses/Depression
_in_Children_and_Adolescents.htm - Bipolar Disorder and Children
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depression, is a type of mood disorder marked by extreme changes in mood, energy levels, and behavior. Symptoms can begin in early childhood but more typically emerge in adolescence or adulthood.
http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectid=CA866DAF-1372-4D20-C8023899E7497020 - Anxiety Disorders
An anxiety disorder is a mental health problem that can affect people of all ages, including children. Persistent and intense anxiety that disrupts daily routine is a mental health problem that requires intervention.
http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectid=C7DF9175-1372-4D20-C8F42EED1A02E8D0 - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that becomes apparent in some children in the preschool and early school years. This detailed booklet describes the symptoms, causes, and treatments of ADHD, with information on getting help and coping.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/adhd_booklet.pdf - Handling Challenging Behaviors in Child Care and at Home: Autism
This site contains the transcript and resource list from an IEL Chat with Alyson Beytien, assistant project director of the Illinois Autism/Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) Training & Technical Assistance Project in La Grange, Illinois.
http://www.illinoisearlylearning.org/chat/beytien/trans.htm
http://www.illinoisearlylearning.org/chat/beytien/sup.htm
Organizations
- National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Illinois
Address: 218 W. Lawrence Ave.
Springfield, IL 62704-2612
Telephone: 217-522-1403, 800-346-4572
Fax: 217-522-3598
Email: namiil@sbcglobal.net
Web: http://il.nami.org - American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Address: 3615 Wisconsin Ave.,
NW, Washington, DC 20016-3007
Telephone: 202-966-7300
Fax: 202-966-2891
Web: http://www.aacap.org
ERIC Database: Selected Records
To search the ERIC database for resources on this topic, use this search strategy: young children or preschool children or toddlers or infants or early experience or preschool education. Combine with mental health.How to Obtain ERIC Documents and Journal Articles:
References identified with an ED (ERIC document)or EJ (ERIC journal) are cited in the ERIC database. ERIC Documents (citations identified by an ED number) may be available in full text from ERIC at no cost at the ERIC Web site: http://www.eric.ed.gov. Journal articles are available from the original journal, interlibrary loan services, or article reproduction clearinghouses.
If you would like to conduct your own free ERIC database searches via the Internet, go directly to http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/basic.jsp
- ERIC Document No.: ED480380
Healing Magazine, Volume 8, 2003
Publication Date: 2003
Availability: KidsPeace Creative Services, 1650 Broadway, Bethlehem, PA 18015-3998
This volume of "Healing Magazine" features practical, clinical information aimed at sharing current work in children's mental health. Each issue contains supplementary resources and book reviews. - ERIC Journal No.: EJ676605
Children's Mental Health. Beginnings Workshop
Author(s): Plattner, Ilse Elisabeth; Haugen, Kirsten; Cohen, Alan; Levin, Diane E.
Publication Date: 2003
Source: Child Care Information Exchange, n152 p33-47 Jul-Aug 2003
This issue presents four articles discussing mental health topics that pertain to early childhood education: "Granting Children Their Emotions" (Ilse Elisabeth Plattner); "Double Vision: Parent and Professional Perspectives on Our Family's Year in Crisis" (Kirsten Haugen); "Coping with Stress and Surviving Challenging Times" (Alan Cohen); and "When the World Is a Dangerous Place: Helping Children Deal with Violence in the News" (Diane E. Levin). - ERIC Journal No.: EJ673109
Primary Prevention in Mental Health for Head Start Classrooms: Partial Replication with Teachers as Interveners
Author(s): Serna, Loretta A.; Nielsen, Elizabeth; Mattern, Nancy; Forness, Steven
Publication Date: 2003
Source: Behavioral Disorders, v28 n2 p124-29 Feb 2003
A previous study demonstrated that a 12-week universal intervention in three Head Start classrooms significantly improved outcomes on 5 of 10 measures of mental health. In this replication, regular Head Start teachers conducted the universal intervention. Outcomes for 98 children were significant on only 2 of 8 outcome measures. - ERIC Journal No.: EJ672034
Remember the Person--Infant Mental Health
Publication Date: 2003
Source: Texas Child Care, v26 n4 p28-35 Spr 2003
This article highlights the concept of infant mental health and discusses what early care and education professionals can do to boost babies' emotional well-being. The article offers steps for the following specific strategies: (1) developing trust, (2) being alert to risk conditions, (3) nurturing children's mental health, (4) creating supportive environments, and (5) offering nurturing activities. - ERIC Document No.: ED468044
Family Strengths: Often Overlooked, but Real
Author(s): Moore, Kristin Anderson; Chalk, Rosemary; Scarpa, Juliet; Vandivere, Sharon
Publication Date: August 2002
Availability: Child Trends, 4301 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20008
This research brief defines the concept of family strengths, identifies the characteristics of strong families from research, and examines several measures of family strengths in two recent national surveys, one dealing with family life of younger children and the other with adolescents. The brief also suggests some next steps to expand understanding of family strengths and what they mean for the well-being and development of family members. - ERIC Document No.: ED470020
The ABCs of Children's Mental Health
Author(s): Whelley, Pete; Cash, Gene; Bryson, Dixie
Publication Date: 2002
Source: Here's How, v21 n1 Fall 2002
Availability: National Association of Elementary School Principals, 1615 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
The U.S. Surgeon General's 2000 Report on Children's Mental Health estimates that one in five children and adolescents will experience a significant mental-health problem during their school years. It is recommended that educators educate themselves on types and symptoms of mental-health problems, develop procedures for addressing potential problems, and utilize community mental-health resources and provide their names and numbers to parents. - ERIC Journal No.: EJ657953
Children's Emotional Growth: Adults' Role as Emotional Archaeologists
Author(s): Dettore, Ernie
Publication Date: 2002
Source: Childhood Education, v78 n5 p278-81 2002
This article discusses adults' roles in children's emotional development, focusing on ways that adults can help young children identify and communicate their feelings, become attuned to and accepting of the ways young children approach and deal with emotional issues, and provide environments that enable young children to express their feelings. - ERIC Document No.: ED468559
Building Strong Foundations: Practical Guidance for Promoting the Social-Emotional Development of Infants and Toddlers
Author(s): Parlakian, Rebecca; Seibel, Nancy L.
Publication Date: 2002
Availability: Zero to Three, 2000 M Street, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036-3307
Supportive relationships, especially those with primary caregivers, are crucial for both the physical survival and the healthy social-emotional development of infants and toddlers. This guide, the first in a series on infant mental health from the Center for Program Excellence, describes how supportive relationships promote the social-emotional development of very young children. - ERIC Document No.: ED456596
A Guidebook for Parents of Children with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders. Third Edition
Author(s): Jordon, Dixie
Publication Date: 2001
Availability: PACER Center, 4826 Chicago Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55417-1098
This handbook discusses different types of disorders, mental health services, and school services. A list of relevant organizations is provided, along with a list of parent training and information centers, state Medicaid offices, and the core values and principles of the CASSP system of care.
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The opinions, resources, and referrals provided on the IEL Web site are intended for informational purposes only and are not intended to take the place of medical or legal advice, or of other appropriate services. We encourage you to seek direct local assistance from a qualified professional if necessary before taking action.
The content of the IEL Web site does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Illinois Early Learning Project, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, or the Illinois State Board of Education; nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the Illinois Early Learning Project, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, or the Illinois State Board of Education.