Get Ready for Children’s Mental Health Week This February

Each year, February marks the date for Children’s Mental Health Week. It is the perfect opportunity to reflect on how we can all contribute to improving children’s mental wellbeing. Often overlooked in favour of a focus on ‘physical’ health, good mental health for children is, of course, profoundly important. This special week occurs every year during February and has done so for over a decade. Let’s take a closer look today and see how the initiative can both inspire and empower parents and families to help children’s mental health thrive.

“Around 50% of mental health conditions are established before age 14.” — Place2Be (Children’s Mental Health Charity).

What & When is Children’s Mental Health Week?

Children’s Mental Health Week is designed to bring greater awareness around the mental health of children. It aims to give children a voice, empower them, and give them the tools to thrive. It is a UK initiative originally launched in 2015 by Place2Be, a charity that focuses on children’s mental health.

In 2026, Children’s Mental Health Week will be from Monday the 9th to Sunday the 15th of February inclusive.

The Theme for 2026

Each year, the event has a theme. The theme for 2026 is ‘This is My Place’. It brings a focus to the need, by every child, to feel they belong. Whether it’s to a friendship group, peers at their nursery or school, their family, a club, or a team of some kind, it’s incredibly important for every child to feel they belong. Hence, the theme ‘This is My Place’ for 2026. Click the thumbnail image or this link to launch the official video.

“To know our place and really feel part of our environment is a basic human need. It can have powerful and long-lasting impacts in lots of areas of our lives, including our physical and mental health, education, employment and relationships. When we feel that we belong, it empowers us to contribute to the world and make a real difference.” — Place2Be.

By feeling they belong, children will feel that they are connected, accepted, and valued for who they are. That’s important for children of any age and, in turn, will help them feel happy and safe. It will also teach them to be more inclusive and kind towards others, so no child feels alone or an outsider.

“As parents and carers, you play an important role in your child’s wellbeing.” — Place2Be.

Resources for Families of Children — Including Under 5s

Although the charity that founded Children’s Mental Health Week is primarily involved in supporting children in schools, the overall theme applies equally well to pre-school children under five. Indeed, the Place2Be charity has support and resources that fit perfectly with helping good mental health in children in their early years. Families can download free resources here, and useful information for parents and carers here.

How Can Families Help Children?

To facilitate children’s good mental health, parents and carers have a number of ways to help children, including under-fives, to feel that they fit in and are valued. A few examples include:

Enrolling them in environments like clubs, nurseries, and sports teams, and nurturing their participation in friendship groups.
Taking an avid interest in the child’s interests — getting involved, asking them questions about what they’re passionate about, and encouraging them in associated activities.
Taking the time to be present with your child, engaging with them proactively during activities they’re interested in, and avoiding other distractions whilst doing so.
Encouraging activities that clearly make them happy and feel safe.
Allowing them to choose and steer activities, while also allowing them to explore other pastimes that may be new to them.
Listening, allowing them to speak, encouraging and reassuring them at every step.
Ensuring they have a warm, comfortable space of their own where they can play while feeling safe and nurtured.
Providing consistency so that bonds with siblings, friends, and peers can grow and flourish.
Encouraging those relationships that look to be the most healthy for your child, while withdrawing them from toxic environments that don’t look healthy.
Being your child’s biggest cheerleader — applauding their achievements and boosting their self-worth and confidence.
Talking with children to explore their feelings around belonging, being included, being important, being liked by peers, being loved by family, and being enormously valued.

“1 in 5 children currently has a probable mental health disorder.” — Place2Be.

With it being likely that 1 in 5 children has a mental health disorder and around half of such disorders being established before the age of 14, it’s never been more important to address the issue. As parents and carers, we need to be conscious of the issues, aware of the possible signs, and equipped with the tools to support our children. Learn more about Children’s Mental Health Week and some of the support available here. A non-profit called MindForward Alliance also has an excellent toolkit for parents whose children are experiencing mental health difficulties. Download the toolkit here.