Nurturing Your Child’s Mental Health in the Early Years

From birth children develop the foundations for how they understand feelings, build relationships, and cope with life’s challenges and opportunities. As a parent or carer, you play an important role in supporting your child’s mental health and wellbeing in early childhood.

Published on 17 October 2025

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Nurturing Your Child’s Mental Health in the Early Years

What is mental health in early childhood?

Mental health refers to the way children think and feel about themselves and about the world around them. It encompasses their emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. When children feel good about themselves and feel connected, supported and secure, they are better able to:

  • Build strong relationships with others
  • Learn how to manage big feelings like frustration or sadness
  • Develop resilience and the confidence to try new things
  • Explore, learn, and thrive.

A child’s surroundings, including their experiences, relationships and interactions, shapes their developing body and brain, including their mental health. At The Infants’ Home, our Integrated Team of educators and allied health professionals, including speech pathologists, occupational therapists, social workers and child and family health nurses, work alongside families to support every aspect of their child’s development, including their mental wellbeing.

Indicators of positive mental health in young children

Every child is different and develops in their own way and at their own pace. However, as a general guide, indicators of positive mental health in young children include:

  • Having secure attachments and showing affection toward caregivers and others close to them
  • Playing and engaging socially with caregivers and peers
  • Expressing and managing emotions in age-appropriate ways
  • Coping with change and challenges
  • Showing interest and confidence in learning new things and exploring their environment.
  • Feeling good about themselves and their abilities.
How do I know if my child is experiencing mental health challenges?

Because young children often don’t yet have the words to explain how they feel, it can be difficult to spot when they’re struggling. However, certain behaviours may indicate that a child is experiencing social or emotional difficulties, particularly if these behaviors occur frequently or interfere with their ability to engage with day-to-day routines and experiences. These include:

  • Frequent and intense tantrums that continue over time
  • Ongoing difficulties with sleep or eating
  • Withdrawing from play or losing interest in usual activities
  • Struggling to connect with others or showing limited emotions
  • Excessive worries or clinginess that don’t ease with reassurance.

If you have concerns but are unsure if your child’s behaviour is unusual, it may be helpful to speak with your child’s educators (if they attend childcare of preschool), or your GP or other health professional. At The Infants’ Home, our Integrated Team is available to provide families with information about child development and wellbeing and to help them to seek further advice or an assessment if needed.

Strategies for Supporting your Child’s Mental Health
  • Establish consistent, predictable routines to help your child feel more confident and secure.
  • Provide a supportive environment where your child feels accepted, allowed to make mistakes and able to explore their interests.
  • Actively listen to them and respond warmly to their needs, thoughts and concerns.
  • Help them to identify and label their feelings and develop strategies for managing stress and big emotions.
  • Encourage them to play to help them explore emotions and develop their problem solving and social skills.
  • Support their physical health and wellbeing through physical activity, healthy eating and good sleeping habits.
  • Care for yourself as your own wellbeing shapes how you connect with your child.
Contact us

Our integrated team of educators and allied health professionals are here to help you if you have concerns about your child’s mental health or development. If you have any questions or would like more information, please email us at childrensservices@theinfantshome.org.au.

References and further reading