The Important and Profound Meaning Behind Children’s Mental Health Day – A survey conducted by Verywell Mind revealed surprising results.
Furthermore, 1 in 3 respondents—or 35% of survey participants—reported that their child exhibited symptoms of emotional distress at least once a week.
The survey, titled “Mental Health Days & Kids,” shows that 54% of parents are concerned about their children’s mental health.
According to Allison Slater Tate, we need to take this finding seriously. As a professional in the field of counseling, Allison explains that parents need to consider appropriate solutions for their children.
Children’s Mental Health Day Is the Solution
A high school student named Abby told Allison that she didn’t have a specific day set aside to clear her head.
As a student at a prestigious International Baccalaureate school, she felt anxious about missing school. That’s because it meant she would fall behind in her studies for a week.
When Allison asked her how she cleared her head, Abby replied that she would wait until she felt completely burned out. Only then does she feel the need to rest.
What Abby does is a common phenomenon among high-achieving students.
However, Allison believes these students don’t have to wait until they feel completely overwhelmed to clear their minds. They can set aside specific time to improve their mental health.
The Benefits of Observing That Day
Taking the occasional day off from school to refresh both body and mind has been shown to have a significant impact.
According to the Verywell Mind survey, setting aside time for a “mental health day” has proven to have a positive effect on 77% of children who take one.
As a result, children’s performance actually improves. Many educators in the United States have already recognized this benefit.
They consider missing school to maintain mental health just as valid as missing school for other reasons, such as physical illness.
In fact, many educators support parents and their children in occasionally skipping school to refresh their minds.
Especially now, the academic workload and post-school competition are so intense.
Not to mention, the world is currently abuzz with various major issues that can affect children’s mental well-being.
Parental Support on Children’s Mental Health Day
Setting aside special time for a child’s mental health day can be done in various ways.
The majority of respondents surveyed by Verywell Mind said that such a day is typically spent at home.
No more than half of the respondents spent their time on a nature outing or at a friend’s house.
Dr. Spannagel explains that for parents, the most important thing they can do is support their child’s way of refreshing their mind.
So if a child wants to sleep or just play video games, parents shouldn’t blame them.
However, on the other hand, if a child needs a place to talk, parents clearly need to be more proactive.
After all, it’s not uncommon for children to face problems with their friends that make them want to confide in their family.
Offering suggestions to help children feel mentally refreshed is also a good idea.
Simply suggest that the child try gardening, jogging, baking, or playing a musical instrument.
Read Also: 7 Negative Effects of Children’s Gadget Addiction—Let’s Avoid Them!
The Need for Oversight
Although Children’s Mental Health Day is a good thing, parents and educators still need to be cautious.
Don’t let your child use it as an excuse to be lazy or avoid tests.
This day should be set aside to help children improve their mental well-being so they can face their daily routines afterward.
Dr. Spannagel suggests that Children’s Mental Health Day be scheduled 1–2 times during a specific period.
Parents should also always keep an eye on their children to ensure they don’t misuse this time.
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