Mental Health Starts Here: How Relationships Shape a Child’s Emotional Future

This May, during Mental Health Awareness Month, we're shining a light on something essential: the mental health of young children and the powerful role that teachers, families, and caregivers play in nurturing it.

From birth to age six, children grow and learn in relationship with the adults who care for them. These earliest connections—grounded in safety, trust, and love—build the foundation for emotional security, resilience, and lifelong learning. When young children feel seen, supported, and safe, they are free to explore the world and develop the social-emotional skills that shape everything from friendships to academic success.

Foundations for Healthy Development

In her book, Trauma-Sensitive Care for Infants, Toddlers, and Two-Year-Olds, Barbara Sorrels, EdD, explains how early experiences shape brain development and influence behavior. Before birth and into adulthood, a child's brain is unfolding in a bottom-up sequence: the brain stem develops first, followed by the limbic system and cortex. During infancy and toddlerhood, experiences shape the brain’s architecture. Environments that are safe, stimulating, and rich in movement and interaction foster healthy development.

Caregivers play a vital role through serve-and-return interactions—responsive exchanges that build neural pathways and support attachment. Physical activity, especially outdoor play, promotes cognitive growth by stimulating critical brain chemicals. Conversely, chronic stress, trauma, and excessive confinement (e.g., prolonged use of swings or car seats) can disrupt development, particularly affecting memory, emotion regulation, and executive function.

Trauma during this period may cause children to freeze or dissociate, and lead to difficulties with attention, memory, and transitions. Educators and caregivers can protect and promote brain development by offering warm, responsive relationships, movement-rich environments, and consistent opportunities for exploration, play, and connection.

The Influence of Parental Mental Health

Let’s be honest—parenting isn’t always the joyful ride it’s often portrayed to be. Parents also need support. Supporting the well-being of adults is a key part of ensuring children thrive. Many parents find themselves overwhelmed, caught in daily power struggles, and wondering how to reclaim a sense of peace and connection with their children. Enjoying the Parenting Roller Coaster by Katharine Kersey, EdD, and Marie Masterson, PhD, offers a fresh perspective—rooted in practical strategies and real-life insights—to help parents bring joy back into their everyday routines.

Rather than focusing on fixing behaviors or parental burnout, this book centers on building a home environment that’s consistent, responsive, and nurturing. Drawing on research from leading child development experts, it empowers parents to model their best selves, foster cooperation and respect, and guide children in meaningful ways. It’s not about perfection—it’s about creating stronger, more connected relationships, one day at a time.

Prevalence and Long-Term Impact

Even at a young age, children can face challenges with emotional regulation that may signal deeper mental health concerns. When left unaddressed, difficulties with self-regulation can impact a child's ability to learn, build healthy relationships, and cope with everyday stress, potentially increasing the risk for more serious mental health issues later in life. Supporting self-regulation early on lays the foundation for emotional well-being and lifelong resilience.

Self-regulation—the ability to stay calm, focused, and in control—is a foundational skill for navigating life successfully. While most children begin developing this ability between the ages of three and seven, they often need guidance to recognize and manage their emotions and responses to the world around them.

Calm and in Control: Simple and Effective Strategies to Support Young Children's Self-Regulation by Julie Tourigny is a practical guide designed to help early childhood educators support this essential area of development. Whether a child needs help identifying when they’re overwhelmed or learning how to settle themselves after big feelings, the book offers clear, research-based strategies and engaging activities to make self-regulation part of everyday classroom life.

The Power of Early Intervention

Early intervention isn’t just about addressing challenges—it’s also about creating environments where children can thrive from the very start. The most impactful learning happens when children feel seen, heard, and valued. When a child feels accepted and appreciated for their thoughts and actions, their natural curiosity and love of learning can flourish.

In Getting to the Heart of Learning, Ellen Booth Church offers practical, developmentally appropriate ways for educators to nurture this sense of belonging. Through group explorations that emphasize connection, cooperation, and joyful discovery, educators can support children’s social-emotional growth and lay a strong foundation for future success.

At Gryphon House, we recognize that nurturing mental health in the early years takes intention, insight, and care. That’s why we’re proud to offer expert-created resources that empower educators, caregivers, and families to support children’s emotional development with compassion and confidence.

Explore Our Featured Resources:

From practical strategies to heartfelt guidance, these titles offer tools from supporting children’s mental health to caring for your own:

How Can I Help? by Ginger Welch, PhD – A compassionate guide for recognizing and responding to young children’s mental health needs.

Reaching and Teaching Children Exposed to Trauma by Barbara Sorrels, PhD – Tools for trauma-informed care in early childhood classrooms.

Enjoying the Parenting Rollercoaster by Marie Masterson, PhD and Katharine Kersey, PhD– A supportive read for parents navigating emotional ups and downs.

Emotional Development of 3- and 4-Year-Olds by Susan Miller, EdD – Age-specific insights to support growth.

Socially Strong, Emotionally Secure by Nefertiti Bruce, MEd and Karen Cairone, MEd – Activities and practices to foster social-emotional resilience.

Wired Differently by Keriann Wilmot – Sensory-friendly tools and techniques to support neurodiverse learners.