By Olivia Balbi, Bryce Holland and Matt Ahearn
The last decade has seen a dramatic rise in mental health conditions throughout the world, anxiety in children being one of the most prevalent. “It’s estimated that around one in seven Australian children experience mental health difficulties and about half of all serious mental health problems in adulthood begin before the age of 14 (Australian Government, 2021).
With these alarming statistics, it is important that we as parents, caregivers, teachers, and educators understand the significance of mental health conditions and what it looks like in children as well as the ways in which we can support them.
As an early childhood educator, it is common to see children display some form of anxiety throughout their early childhood years; separation, social, generalised or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) being most common. It is natural for children to feel uneasy or anxious after an unsettling event however when a child feels anxious for a long period of time it can begin to impede their engagement in daily activities and can be identified as an anxiety disorder. In early childhood, dispositions for mental health conditions are displayed in various ways and can often be mistaken for undesirable behaviour.
symptoms of anxiety in children range from:
- Trouble sleeping
- Stomach aches and other physical pain
- Avoidance
- Overly clingy
- Tantrums and meltdowns
- Being overly self–conscious.
It is worth noting that simple daily tasks, social settings, new people or experiences can put children with anxiety disorders into a sense of fight, flight or freeze. Fight, flight, or freeze refers to a trauma response where the cortisol levels in the brain is heightened and the child will either display explosive aggressive behaviours, remove themselves and become upset or simply freeze and become non–engaging. While children are experiencing these responses, they are unable to engage in learning, retain information and regulate their behaviour or emotions. This in turn impacts their engagement and development.
What can we do?
As early childhood educators, we begin to support children’s positive mental health from infancy by effectively meeting the child’s needs and providing secure attachments. The “circle of security” is an attachment theory developed by psychologist, John Bowlby. The theory is a visual map of attachment that shows the balance between primary carers providing a “secure base”; while sending children off to be independent and resilient individuals and in turn being the “safe haven”; welcoming them back and providing emotional support and comfort as they need. Although the circle of security begins in infancy as a baby navigates their needs and who will meet them, the theory applies also to young children, adolescents and adults. The notion of building successful secure attachments is that we raise children who are resilient, emotionally intelligent and have a positive outlook of themselves.
Research findings support the value of good quality play based early years programs (Robertson, Morrisey & Rouse, 2018). It is believed that these programs stimulate the development of socially competent learners who are equipped to face challenges and create solutions. Alkira ELC aims to do just that. We recognise the important role we play in the child’s first five years of life which research tells us is the most crucial for development. The core of our philosophy is supporting children in a holistic way, with a focus on their ability to build relationships, engage in learning and build upon their resilience through a play based curriculum. We aim to set our children up for success by showing them how capable and independent they are as they take the next steps in their lives and in their journey beyond us. We have recently found we share this common goal with other professionals on the Central Coast after we met Bryce and Matt from Little Leaders Australia.
A word from Bryce & Matt
Given the impact of mental health on young people, it is clear the need for more programs aimed at proactively building on children’s self–esteem and wellbeing is key to this.
Our Children are entering a new world where they are faced with so many new challenges that earlier generations have not had to face. These new challenges include but are not limited to; screen time, social media and of course the Coronavirus just to name a few.
Little Leaders, an Australian company developed by Central Coast locals Matt and Bryce, was born with the aim of developing your child into the best versions of themselves. Matt is a proud dad who is passionate about self development and leadership. Studies in positive psychology, children and parenting coaching and being a certified Neuro–Linguistic Programming practitioner are just some of Matt’s educational background that has led him to creating Little Leaders. Matt felt it was important for his daughter Bella to gain valuable life knowledge and yet he had not come across anything on the Coast that placed a focus on this. Bryce is a Central Coast local who shares a love for learning and self development. He is extremely passionate about education, health, wellbeing, and sport. Bryce has been a dedicated primary school teacher for the last ten years. Being a teacher, Bryce has first hand experience in seeing the need for children to build on these valuable skills and this has been the main driver in his goals of supporting Central Cost children and families though Little Leaders Australia.
Little Leaders believe in being proactive and encouraging our Little Leaders to get on the front foot early. They provide programs which facilitate an environment with activities that allow your children to grow into confident, capable, and resilient leaders. Their action packed program allows your Little Leaders to be exposed to an array of tools and team challenges through meaningful activities developed around the Little Leaders four pillars Mindfulness, Teamwork, Resilience and Gratitude’. Little Leaders focuses on the holistic development of the child through purposeful teaching of the critical skills that are embedded within the company’s pillars.
Little Leaders recognise the importance of early, positive intervention support in our children to combat the ever growing epidemic, support and encourage positive mental health and that this begins in quality services like Alkira ELC. Not only preparing children with the tools necessary to navigate and overcome adversity but also to live fuller, happier lives through play based activities.
More information about the upcoming camps/programs can be found at www.littleleadersaustralia.com or on social media. Alkira ELC is looking forward to partnering with Little Leaders Australia in their first program for children under five.