Little Hearts, Big Challenges: Supporting Young Children’s Mental Health

Children’s Mental Health Week is a reminder that mental health matters from the very beginning of life. Even the youngest children experience emotions deeply, joy, fear, frustration, and worry, long before they have the words to explain how they feel. For babies and young children, mental health is shaped by relationships, routines, and the world around them.

At Home-Start Cymru, we work with families every day who are doing their best to support their children’s emotional wellbeing while facing challenges of their own. With the right support, little hearts can grow strong, even when families are under pressure.

What does mental health look like in young children?

Mental health in early childhood isn’t about diagnoses or labels. It’s about how children feel, how safe they feel, and how they learn to understand and manage their emotions. Young children may show signs of emotional distress through changes in behaviour, such as increased clinginess, sleep difficulties, frequent tantrums, withdrawal, or delays in development.

Children’s mental health is closely linked to their experiences at home and the emotional wellbeing of the adults who care for them.

When children feel supported, listened to, and emotionally secure, they are better able to build resilience, confidence, and healthy relationships.

The link between parental wellbeing and children’s mental health

Parents are a child’s first source of comfort and security. When parents are struggling with anxiety, depression, isolation, or stress, it can affect how supported and safe a child feels, even when parents are doing everything they can.

The NHS highlights that parental mental health has a significant impact on children’s emotional development, particularly in the early years

This is not about blame. Families face many pressures, including financial stress, lack of support networks, housing difficulties, and health inequalities, challenges that are felt strongly by many families across Wales. Supporting parents’ mental health is one of the most effective ways to protect and improve children’s mental health.

Why early support makes a difference

The first five years of life are a critical time for emotional and brain development. Early experiences shape how children learn to cope with stress, express emotions, and form relationships later in life. When children receive support early on, it can prevent difficulties from becoming more serious as they grow.

Welsh Government initiatives such as Parenting. Give it time. recognise the importance of early relationships and emotional connection in supporting children’s wellbeing

Early help doesn’t need to be complex, sometimes it’s about reassurance, practical support, and knowing you’re not alone.

How Home-Start Cymru supports children’s mental health

Home-Start Cymru supports families with young children by offering practical and emotional help through trained volunteers. By building trusting relationships with parents, we help create calmer, more stable home environments where children feel safe and nurtured.

This might include:

• Supporting parents to build routines that help children feel secure
• Encouraging play and positive interaction
• Helping families access local services and professional support
• Reducing isolation so parents feel more confident and supported

Community-based support, plays a vital role in improving mental wellbeing for both parents and children

When parents feel listened to and supported, children benefit too.

Talking about children’s mental health

Children’s Mental Health Week is also about breaking down stigma. Mental health challenges can affect any family, and they are nothing to be ashamed of. Talking openly about children’s emotional wellbeing helps normalise support and encourages families to seek help earlier.

At Home-Start Cymru, we believe every child deserves the chance to grow up feeling safe, valued, and understood, and every parent deserves support on that journey.

You are not alone

If you’re worried about your child’s emotional wellbeing, or you’re feeling overwhelmed as a parent, help is available. Asking for support is a sign of strength, not failure. And if you’re a friend, neighbour, or professional who is concerned about a family, reaching out could make a lasting difference to a child’s life.

Together, we can support little hearts through big challenges, and help children build the strong emotional foundations they need for the future.

Support and Useful Resources

The following organisations offer trusted advice and support for children’s mental health and family wellbeing in Wales:

Home-Start Cymru
Support for families with young children through local Home-Start schemes.
👉 https://www.home-start.org.uk/home-start-cymru

YoungMinds
Advice and resources to support children and young people’s mental health, including guidance for parents.
👉 https://www.youngminds.org.uk

NHS Wales – Mental Health Support
Information on mental health services for children, parents, and families.
👉 https://111.wales.nhs.uk/mentalhealth

Mind Cymru
Mental health information and support, including help for parents and carers.
👉 https://www.mind.org.uk/about-us/mind-cymru

👉 Platfform 4YP

Mental health information and support, including help for parents and carers.

platfform4yp.org.uk

Family Information Service (FIS)
Local authority information on parenting support, childcare, and family wellbeing.
👉 https://www.gov.wales/find-your-local-family-information-service

Parenting. Give it time.
Welsh Government programme offering practical parenting advice and emotional wellbeing support.
👉 https://parenting.giveittime.gov.wales

Urgent support:
If a child or parent needs immediate help, contact NHS 111 (press 2 in many areas) or emergency services.