Minnesota association for childrens mental health

Generally early childhood refers to children birth to 5 years of age and infant refers to children from birth to 3 years of age. The first thing parents can do is to take good care of themselves. Even before her baby is born, a woman who eats well, exercises regularly, and avoids harmful substances like drugs and alcohol is helping her child develop good physical and mental health.

After a child is born, eating well and getting regular exercise are still important, but parents must also make sure their child has the chance to develop trusting relationships. They are beginning to develop trust and an all-important sense of security. Children who develop this trust take risks, explore their world, and try new things because they know they can return to safety.

Here are some additional tips:. Yes, infants, toddlers and pre-school children can experience mental illnesses or delays in their social-emotional typical development. A study showed that 16 percent of the infants and toddlers in families that were surveyed had social, emotional, or behavioral problems. From time to time, your child may have behaviors and feelings that worry you.

Many times these behaviors are a normal part of growing up. For example, adjusting to a new daycare may cause your child to be more irritable or anxious. Adjustment periods for such changes are normal. But sometimes disruptions can lead to more significant problems.

Minnesota children's mental health fact sheets

Although early childhood development does vary greatly, parents often seem to have an intuitive sense about their children. Even though some neurological disorders such as autism or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders FASD cannot be totally overcome, the effects can be lessened with early intervention and these children, too, have a wonderful chance of growing into mentally healthy adults.

Some things to watch for include:.