What is Children’s Mental Health Week (5th-10th February)
Children’s Mental Health Week will take place from 5 to 11 February 2024, with the theme of My Voice Matters. It was set up by children’s mental health charity Place2Be and shines a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health.
Children’s Mental Health Week: Why is child development so important for the future of society – Home Start Cyrmu’s Commitment to Families and Children.
It’s Children’s Mental Health Week this week (February 5th-10th) and to mark the occasion, we thought we’d delve a little deeper into why do we do what we do?
At the heart of Home Start Cymru, beats a powerful and passionate belief that the safe and loving development of children, is the foundation all great futures are built on.
1. The renowned developmental psychologist, Erik Erikson, highlighted the significance of early experiences in shaping identity and the capacity for positive relationships because during these crucial years, the seeds of empathy, resilience, and creativity are sown – qualities that will eventually bloom into the leaders, innovators, and compassionate citizens of tomorrow.
2. The leading expert in Attachment Theory, Jonathan Bowlby, has also suggested that “adult behaviours are often based on a foundation of childhood experiences” which means the future of society for every one of us, depends on how well parents like us can achieve our fullest potential in the here and now, with the children of today.
But leading a family isn’t always an easy feat, especially during turbulent times, with high levels of poverty and mental health. And so it is important to remind ourselves that the trajectory of a child’s development is not solely an individual affair, or a responsibility that families have to undertake on their own without any help.
Because with the right amount of support, we know that every family, parent and child, can, and will succeed.
So join us on this journey of collaboration and empowerment, where families are not just recipients of a service from Home Start Cymru, but are active leaders on the pathway to connection, mutual support, and life-long success for those we all care about most – children.
Guest blog post written by Liam Maguire, Director of People and Operations at Home Start Cymru.
