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.
Little Cedars Nursery, Streatham
A High-Quality Childcare Service for Southwest London
Do you have a child under five and live in Streatham or close by? Little Cedars Nursery provides high-quality childcare in Streatham, and we’re conveniently close to families in Streatham Common, Streatham Hill, Streatham Park, Tooting, Furzedown, Balham, Norbury, and Colliers Wood. Rated ‘Good’ in all categories by Ofsted, we also support free childcare hours for eligible children from the age of 9 months to 5 years.
Start your childcare application today or contact us to learn more:
Except for Safeguarding, the new Report Card will show Ofsted’s evaluation of each of the assessment areas as one of the following:
Each year on 20 November, families, nurseries, and schools around the world mark World Children’s Day — a global celebration of children and a reminder that every child deserves to be safe, loved, and heard.
At Little Cedars Nursery, we believe childhood should be filled with discovery, laughter, and a sense of belonging. Each day presents countless opportunities for children to explore their world, build friendships and develop confidence in who they are.
The values behind World Children’s Day are deeply woven into the early years. When children feel valued and respected, they learn to value and respect others. Through play, they develop empathy — comforting a friend who feels sad, or cheering when someone else achieves something new.
Even the youngest children have ideas, preferences, and opinions — and part of our role is to listen carefully to them. That might mean noticing a baby’s cues and interests, or responding when a toddler points out something new they’ve discovered.
While World Children’s Day falls just once a year, its spirit is something we celebrate every day. Each time a child is encouraged to speak up, to show kindness, or to follow their curiosity, they’re practising the values that shape a fair and caring world.
Tantrums are a common part of life with toddlers and under-fives, but when they happen, they can be very challenging! Whether it’s a meltdown at dinner time or a dramatic on-the-floor outburst in the middle of the supermarket aisle, they can test even the most patient of parents and carers. However, it’s important to understand that tantrums aren’t a sign that something is wrong — they’re actually a normal, healthy stage of child development.
In their early years, children are still learning how to manage big emotions. There’s a mismatch, though; their brains are developing rapidly, but they haven’t yet mastered language, impulse control, or emotional regulation. So, when they’re tired, hungry, overstimulated, or frustrated, it can all become too much for them. 
When a tantrum starts, staying calm yourself is key. Your child will take emotional cues from you, their trusted adult. If you can remain steady, even if you’re feeling flustered inside, you send the message that you’re in control—and that they’re safe.
Avoid reasoning or explaining too much during a tantrum. When a child is overwhelmed, they’re unlikely to take much in. It’s often best to wait it out and stay close so they know they’re not alone. For some children, a gentle touch or hug might be helpful. Others may need a bit of space before they’re ready for comfort.
Offering limited choices — like “Would you like to wear the red jumper or the blue one?” — can also give them a sense of control without overwhelming them.
In today’s world, electronic screens are everywhere — from TVs and smartphones to tablets and games consoles. Even our youngest children are growing up in increasingly digital environments. While technology brings many conveniences, intentionally unplugging can offer profound benefits for little ones and their families. Whether it’s for a day, a weekend, a holiday, or even longer, the value gained from a ‘digital detox’ may surprise even the most dubious amongst us. Today’s post investigates.
Research consistently shows the positive effects of stepping away from our screens. Studies report that a digital detox can lead to decreased stress and anxiety, improved mood and well-being, and even better physical health through healthier, less sedentary, lifestyles. Pausing the use of electronic screens can even help reset our perception of time, making days feel longer, fuller, and more engaged.
When families go screen-free, the benefits extend well beyond the individual. Removing screens often rekindles face-to-face interactions and facilitates more laughter and unfiltered conversations within the family. Parents who’ve tried it report a renewed sense of connection and deeper engagement with their children. Even short periods of unplugging can turn into lasting changes—more shared stories, more creative play, and more real presence.
Better sleep for everyone with children tending to drop off more easily and adults feeling more rested.
Begin by designating screen-free boundaries, such as bedrooms or mealtimes, and/or set a daily screen-free hour in the evening.
The evidence clearly shows: families who have periods free of electronic screens will benefit. A digital detox enriches and elongates days. It enhances sleep quality for children and adults by facilitating their natural rhythms. Days feel more spacious and calm without digital distractions and imaginative play soon steps in and thrives. In the absence of screens, children are also likely to get outdoors more often — and benefit from everything nature and outdoor play have to offer. Mental health and even academic grades are also likely to improve when this happens.
At first glance, this devotion to a single story might seem puzzling. As adults, we crave novelty and variation, and it’s tempting to encourage children to explore new titles or gently steer them towards something ‘different’. But this desire for repetition is not only entirely normal for infants, toddlers and preschoolers — it’s actually a sign of healthy development. In fact, there’s a great deal happening beneath the surface every time your child requests a beloved book for the umpteenth time.
There is also an emotional component to repeated reading. When a child hears a favourite story in the voice of a parent or trusted adult, it creates a strong sense of connection. The warmth, tone and rhythm of familiar words spoken by someone they love reinforce a feeling of safety and belonging. For many children, this shared experience becomes part of their routine, and returning to a much-loved story can offer comfort in moments of transition, tiredness or uncertainty.
One of the clearest benefits of repeated reading is vocabulary development. Hearing the same words and phrases over time helps children internalise them. This is especially important when books introduce new or more complex language than a child might hear in everyday conversation. By encountering those words again and again in a familiar context, children begin to understand them more deeply and even start to use them in their own speech. The rhythm and rhyme found in many favourite books further support this by making the language more memorable and easier to imitate.
At home, parents or carers can support this by continuing to follow a child’s lead. If your child keeps choosing the same book, that’s a good thing — it means they’re connecting with it. You can enhance the experience by reading with enthusiasm, pausing to let your child fill in familiar lines, or asking gentle questions like “What happens next?” or “How do you think they feel here?” If your child wants to tell you the story instead, even better — this kind of role reversal strengthens memory, language, and storytelling abilities.
Eventually, children do move on. When they’ve had their fill of a particular book, they’re often ready to explore new stories with a richer set of skills in place. The comfort and confidence gained from repeated readings help them approach unfamiliar books with greater interest and less frustration. So rather than seeing repetition as a rut, it’s helpful to view it as a bridge — a way for children to move steadily from the familiar to the new.
Our practitioners are skilled at making repeated reading feel fresh and interactive, even when the story is already very familiar. By using expressive voices, gestures, and encouraging children to join in with key words or sounds, we help bring the story to life each time. Children are often invited to take on the role of storyteller themselves, turning pages, pointing to pictures, and even “reading” aloud from memory. These small but powerful moments help build confidence and strengthen communication skills in a way that feels natural and joyful.
