Supporting the Mental Health of Children in Kindergarten

Supporting the Mental Health of Children in Kindergarten and the Primary Grades Dr. Kim Houtmeyers

COPING

Three Common Treatment Strategies • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Three Common Treatment Strategies • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) • Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

Three Common Treatment Strategies • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) • Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) • Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS)

Padesky’s Anxiety Equation Anxiety = Estimate of Danger __________________ Estimate of Coping

WISE MIND

Collaborative Problem Solving (Greene & Ablon) Non-negotiable A Problem-Solving B Let it Go C

When we teach a child to cope, we build resilience. When we build resilience, we increase emotional well-being.

What does this look like in practice?

Three Common Mental Health Issues

Three Common Mental Health Issues • Anxiety

Three Common Mental Health Issues • Anxiety • Self-Regulatory Disorders

Three Common Mental Health Issues • Anxiety • Self-Regulatory Disorders • Quirky Temperament

Rather than telling children what NOT to do, tell them what TO do, and then help them learn HOW to do it.

The role of consequences and rewards

Anxiety • Fight or flight response

Anxiety • Fight or flight response • False alarms

Anxiety • Fight or flight response • False alarms • When we allow a child to avoid we collude with anxiety

Anxiety • Fight or flight response • False alarms • When we allow a child to avoid we collude with anxiety • When we force them to approach we trigger fight

So What Do We Do? • Teach the child how to cope so that they can confidently approach instead of avoid

Ways We Can Do This • Belly Breathing

Ways We Can Do This • Belly Breathing • Worry Bugs

Ways We Can Do This • Belly Breathing • Worry Bugs • The denominator of the anxiety equation

Ways We Can Do This • • Belly Breathing Worry Bugs The denominator of the anxiety equation Five Senses

Self-Regulation (ADHD) • What is ADHD?

Self-Regulation (ADHD) • What is ADHD? • Strategies:

Self-Regulation (ADHD) • What is ADHD? • Strategies: – Calming Corners

Self-Regulation (ADHD) • What is ADHD? • Strategies: – Calming Corners – Moving in Adaptive Ways

Self-Regulation (ADHD) • What is ADHD? • Strategies: – Calming Corners – Moving in Adaptive Ways – Setting up the environment for success

Self-Regulation (ADHD) • What is ADHD? • Strategies: – Calming Corners – Moving in Adaptive Ways – Setting up the environment for success – Explicit teaching of planning and organizational skills

Quirky Temperament • How might this look?

Quirky Temperament • How might this look? • How can we help?

Quirky Temperament • How might this look? • How can we help? – Teach adaptive ways to act on urges and aversions

There is no single coping strategy that is going to work for everyone all of the time.

Revisiting Andrew