Growing Happy, Healthy Adults: Tips for Supporting Children’s Mental Health

Every child deserves the chance to thrive — emotionally, mentally, and physically. National Children’s Day is a powerful reminder that the early years of life matter deeply. It’s a time to reflect on how we can nurture resilience, confidence, and wellbeing in our young people so they can grow into happy, healthy adults.

At Holly Blue Hypnotherapy, we believe the foundation for good mental health starts young. The way we listen, support, and guide our children now will shape their self-worth and coping mechanisms for the rest of their lives.

So how can we empower children to develop strong mental and emotional wellbeing? Here are some simple, practical tips every parent, teacher, and carer can implement today:

1. Normalise Conversations About Feelings

Children need to know that all emotions — even the tricky ones — are valid and safe to express. Encourage them to name their feelings. Say things like, “It’s okay to feel sad,” or “I can see you’re feeling frustrated — do you want to talk about it?”

Top Tip: Use books or story time to talk about characters’ feelings, making emotional literacy part of everyday life.

2. Be a Calm Anchor

Children often mirror the emotional tone of the adults around them. If we react with panic or stress, they learn to do the same. Practice staying calm and grounded — even during tantrums or meltdowns. Your calm presence helps build their emotional regulation.

Try This: Deep breathing together or a simple grounding technique like “Name 5 things you can see” can help a child reset in overwhelming moments.

3. Prioritise Rest and Routine

Sleep and structure are vital for mental health. When children are overtired or overstimulated, they struggle more with emotions. A predictable rhythm helps them feel safe and secure.

Bonus Tip: Make bedtime a mindful ritual with calming music, gentle conversation, or a short guided meditation. Hypnotherapy-inspired audio can work wonders here!

4. Listen First, Solve Later

It’s natural to want to fix things, but often children just need to feel heard. Active listening — giving your full attention without rushing in with advice — builds trust and teaches them their voice matters.

Practice This: Reflect back what they’re saying: “That sounds really tough. I’m so glad you told me.”

5. Model Self-Care and Emotional Awareness

Children learn by watching us. When they see adults taking care of their mental health — pausing when overwhelmed, seeking help when needed, or speaking kindly to themselves — it becomes part of their internal dialogue too.

Self-Kindness Reminder: Let your child hear you say, “I’m feeling a bit stressed, so I’m going to take a few deep breaths,” or “I made a mistake, and that’s okay — everyone does!”

6. Use Therapeutic Tools Creatively

At Holly Blue Hypnotherapy, we use gentle, imaginative techniques to help children release anxiety, build confidence, and feel empowered. Whether it's through relaxation scripts, visualisation exercises, or playful guided imagery, hypnotherapy can be a beautiful bridge between creativity and calm.

Did You Know? Even young children can benefit from guided visualisation to reduce fears or manage worries.

Final Thought

Raising happy, healthy adults starts with being present, intentional, and emotionally available to children — day by day, moment by moment. This National Children’s Day, let’s recommit to creating a world where children feel seen, safe, and supported.

If your child is experiencing anxiety, low confidence, or struggles with change, hypnotherapy can help. Holly Blue Hypnotherapy offers gentle, child-friendly sessions designed to build resilience and peace from the inside out.

Get in touch to learn more about how hypnotherapy can support your child’s mental wellbeing.