October marks Mental Health Week in Australia, making it a fitting time to talk about mental health education for children in the early years. At Sorella Early Learning in Griffin, we believe emotional wellbeing deserves the same attention as physical health, right from the very start.
Mental health education for children doesn’t mean formal lessons or worksheets. In our rooms, it means everyday, age-appropriate opportunities for children to name their feelings, build resilience and feel genuinely safe.
Why Mental Health Education for Children Starts So Early
The early years lay the foundation for how a person manages emotions for the rest of their life. Children who learn to recognise and talk about feelings early are better equipped to cope with disappointment, change and big emotions as they grow.
**Emotional wellbeing is not a separate subject — it is woven into every part of our day**, from morning greetings to how we support a child through a tricky moment on the playground.
Our Wellness Warriors Approach
Our educators use simple, consistent strategies to support mental health education for children throughout the day, including:
– Daily feelings check-ins using picture cards and simple language
– Building children’s emotion vocabulary through stories and conversation
– Quiet, calm spaces where a child can settle before rejoining the group
– Breathing and mindfulness games suited to short attention spans
– Praising effort and problem-solving, not just the end result
These strategies help children build a toolkit they can draw on long after they leave our centre.
Supporting Families During Mental Health Week and Beyond
Mental Health Week is a timely reminder that supporting a child’s emotional wellbeing is a shared effort between educators and families. Raising Children Network notes that good mental health in children is closely linked to feeling loved, safe and connected to the people around them (https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/health-daily-care/mental-health/children-s-mental-health), which is exactly what we aim to build into each day at Sorella Early Learning.
We encourage families to keep talking about feelings at home, using the same simple language their child hears with us, so the message stays consistent across both settings.
A Whole-Child Approach
Mental health education for children is not a one-off activity — it is an ongoing part of how we care for every child at Sorella Early Learning. Small, everyday moments build the emotional foundation children carry with them for life.
If you would like to know more about our approach to wellbeing, or you are considering enrolment for your child, we would love to talk with you. Contact Sorella Early Learning in Griffin to find out more.