Eight Essential Ingredients For A Child’s Mental Health

Love

Every child needs to feel loved and wanted, that he matters very much to someone, and that there are people near him who care what happens to him.

Security

Every child needs to know that his home is a good, safe place he can feel secure about, that his parents or other protective adults will always be on hand, especially in times of crisis when he needs them most, and that he belongs to a group — that there is a place where he fits in.

Acceptance

Every child needs to believe that she is liked for herself, just the way she is, and that she is liked all the time, and not only when she acts according to other’s ideas of the way a child should act.

Independence

Every child needs to know that she will be encouraged to try new things and to grow, and that there is confidence in her and in her ability to do things for herself by herself.

Protection

Every child needs to feel that she will be kept safe from harm and that when she must face strange and unknown situations, someone will be there to help.

Faith

Every child needs to have a set of moral standards to live by and a belief in the human values of kindness, courage, honesty, generosity and justice.

Control

Every child needs to know that there are limits to what he is permitted to do and that he will be held to his limits, and though it’s all right to feel jealous and angry, he will not be allowed to hurt himself or others when he has these feelings.

Guidance

Every child needs to have “friendly” help in learning how to behave towards persons and things, and adults around him who show him the example of how to get along with others.