In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, check out this support guide for children 0-5!
Mental health may feel like an adult conversation, but it’s important at every age, including infancy. The early years are when the most critical attachments are formed, yet infants and young toddlers are often left out of the mental health conversation. The numbers tell a story that’s hard to ignore. According to the CDC, one in six children ages 2–8 has a diagnosable mental health condition, and at least one in ten children under age five has a significant emotional, behavioral, or relationship problem (Sims, 2024).
The early years are a period of extraordinary brain growth. By age two, much of that foundational development has already taken place, long before formal learning begins. As a parent or caregiver, you play a powerful and protective role in that process. You can do so by showing up with warmth, helping them navigate hard moments, and building the everyday skills that will carry them through life. You don’t have to be a perfect parent – small, consistent moments of connection and care are what make the difference.
Your Baby Needs You
Responsive caregiving builds secure attachment, and secure attachment builds the foundation for development. It lays the groundwork for your baby’s ability to form close relationships, express and manage emotions, and explore the world with confidence (Parlakian & Kinsner, n.d.; Zero to Three, n.d.). Responsive caregiving doesn’t mean your baby will never cry; it means they always know that when they do, you’ll be there.
Some of the simplest ways to build that bond every day include (UNICEF, n.d.):
Touch is one of the most powerful tools you have for building a secure attachment. Something as simple as holding your baby skin-to-skin can go a long way. Research shows it supports bonding and helps reduce stress and anxiety in mothers (Kingsley et al., 2020). Infant massage is another great option. Research shows it can improve self-regulation and social engagement in babies (Kingsley et al., 2020). Connection through touch is meaningful for all caregivers, and dads are encouraged to get involved, too.
A meltdown over the wrong cup color might seem small, but to your toddler, it’s genuinely upsetting. Young children often don’t have the words to express how they feel and instead show it through behaviors like crying or yelling. These moments can feel overwhelming as a parent but remember that your child isn’t trying to be difficult. They’re trying to communicate in the only ways they know how.
Validating their feelings doesn’t mean agreeing with the behavior; it means letting them know you see them. How you respond in these moments directly shapes your child’s ability to develop healthy coping skills and guides their behavior as they grow (Zero to Three, n.d.b). It’s important to foster positive, compassionate responses early on.
Next time your child is struggling, try saying: “You’re really frustrated right now. I get it. Let’s figure this out together.” It’s a simple sentence that helps your child feel seen, heard, and reminded that they’re not alone.
Toddlers experience big feelings without the tools to manage them, and that’s where you come in. Teaching your child how to calm their body is one of the most valuable things you can do at this age. A great starting point is deep breathing, made fun and imaginative with this simple technique (Children’s Hospital Colorado, 2025):
Smell the Flower, Blow Out the Candles:
This practice helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, signaling to your child’s body that it’s safe to calm down. Once their body is calm, their mind can follow. The key is to practice during quiet, everyday moments so that when things do get hard, the tool is already familiar.
As preschoolers grow, they become ready to start putting words to their emotions, building what is often called a feelings vocabulary (CDC, 2026). As their parent, you play a big role in that process. Learning to put words to emotions helps children express themselves verbally rather than through their behavior. This is a skill that takes time and consistent practice, so it’s important to practice patience. One of the simplest ways to support this is by modeling it yourself. Name your own emotions out loud by saying something like, “I’m feeling a little frustrated right now”, and your child will learn to do the same (Zero to Three, n.d.). It’s also important to reinforce that all feelings are okay. It’s how we respond to them that matters.
Books, stuffed animals, and puppets are fun and easy tools for practicing emotion naming. You can use them to act out common frustrations and talk through how the characters feel. It gives your child a safe way to explore big emotions in a way that feels natural and relaxed.
As your child grows, you can continue building on the breathing techniques introduced in the toddler years and add new tools to the mix. The same rule applies here. Practice these during calm moments so they’re available and familiar when things get hard. Here are some great options to explore with your preschooler (Zero to Three, n.d.; Children’s Hospital Colorado, 2025):
The goal is to give your child a toolkit they can reach for when they need it.
If your child seems consistently unable to connect with others, struggles to express their emotions in healthy ways, or has difficulty finding joy in everyday life, it may be worth bringing up with their healthcare provider. Early support makes a real difference.
It’s also worth noting, your mental health matters too. Caregiver well-being directly affects child well-being (Kingsley et al., 2020). The two are deeply connected, so it’s important to carve out time to care for yourself as well. Individualized support, like parent coaching, counseling, and structured parenting programs, is one of the most effective tools families can access. Asking for help isn’t a sign of failure. It’s one of the best things you can do for both you and your child.
The early years go by fast, but the foundation built in that time lasts a lifetime. Starting with a strong, healthy foundation helps children develop the resilience and skills they will need to thrive as they grow. You don’t have to have it all figured out, you just have to keep showing up.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026, February 16). Milestones by 4 years. https://www.cdc.gov/act-early/milestones/4-years.html
Children’s Hospital Colorado. (2025, December 16). Stress reliefs for kids: Breathing tips. https://www.childrenscolorado.org/just-ask-childrens/articles/breathing-exercises-and-mood-regulation/
Kingsley, K., Sagester, G., & Weaver, L. L. (2020). Interventions supporting mental health and positive behavior in children ages birth–5 yr. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(2). https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.039768
Parlakian, R., & Kinsner, K. (n.d.). Early connections last a lifetime. Zero to Three. https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/journal/early-connections-last-a-lifetime-four-programs-focused-on-supporting-prenatal-attachment/
Sims, B. (2024, March 15). The foundation of mental health: It starts at birth. SAMHSA. https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/foundation-mental-health-it-starts-birth
UNICEF. (n.d.). Build the foundation: 0–5 years. https://www.unicef.org/parenting/mental-health/build-foundation-0-5-years
Zero to Three. (n.d.). 24–36 months: Social-emotional development. https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/24-36-months-social-emotional-development/
Zero to Three. (n.d.a). Developing self-control from 12–24 months. https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/developing-self-control-from-12-24-months/
Zero to Three. (n.d.b). Managing your own emotions: The key to positive, effective parenting. https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/the-key-to-positive-parenting/
Written by: Isabela Hockett, Service-Learning Student
