I think it's okay. I didn't grow up with mental illness and I was a very happy child but I suffered really badly at school because of multiple learning disabilities and it made feel so alone, scared and depressed.
I was scared because I didn't understand why I wasn't like the other kids I used to panic and cry when I struggled with school work and my teachers didn't help they'd either try to embrasse and shame me or make feel even more of a out sider by hiding me at the back of the class room to do different work to everyone else.
I used to have massive headaches just looking at books. Looking back at my younger self it was so sad really. I had no one to explain why I felt this way. I was just told I was different and special and but I had a gift... A gift can I have the fucking receipt please. I had child therapy but no one really explained what it was to me. I just thought I was being taken in a room to talk to a nice lady or man.
I just felt so lost, if someone spoke to me about my feelings and reassured me I probably wouldn't have felt so alone
Oh I'm sorry to hear that you had to go through this all. You surely are a stronger person now since you went through it by yourself (if I understood). Hope you're better now^^
Yeah I'm lucky mum is also dyslexic and so is my boyfriend so I always had people who were there to comfort me in hard times. My mum is my rock and I can't imagine life without her. She's the one who made me strong
Kids suffer from mental illness, too, increasingly so in today's world.
Hiding it from them doesn't help them. It just makes them isolate and makes it harder for them to understand and process what's happening. At worst, they learn they can't trust others and we end up with a whole generation of adults who can't regulate emotion (example: white boys on this site, who were always told don't show emotion or only show anger).
Giving kids the tools to understand themselves, their emotions, and how to live with them is much more valuable.
Life sucks. Life hurts. The sooner kids learn to process and deal with it all, the better it is for them.
Parents can't protect their children forever. Eventually, the kids grow up. The best thing parents can do is teach and empower their kids to protect themselves.
If you think pre-teens shouldn't know that some of their thoughts and actions, not to mention others, can be caused by mental illnesses you are underestimating just how much they can battle with them themselves, and with their family and friends, without information.
(No, I'm in no way saying you should give them the DSM to read. That's preposterous! Just a preemptive reply... 🤷🏻♂️)
Information saves lives, and there are plenty of books about talking to children, pre-teens and teenagers about mental health if you're baffled by it. There are online resources as well.
I will give a very common example you mention: eating disorders are not uncommon in 12 year olds, but if the person in question associates it with peer pressure or bullying and does not know the disorder in question that kind of behaviour is much more likely to continue for years.
I could go on and add sources but GAG doesn't seem that app anymore, unfortunately. 🤦🏻♂️
My daughter had this type of talk really early on.
it’s hard to avoid when her father wakes the house with a scream or screams lol.
Also to explain about various scars etc.
As with most things it needs to be factual and age, mental ability orientated, you can’t go to deep with it all, they learn more in easy bite size chunks of knowledge.
Also growing up in the Air Force, suicide and sudden deaths were a real thing, a girl in her class father committed suicide and she was 8 years old.
It’s about giving kids factual information.
It’s also fucking important that the stigma is removed from boys, guys seeking mental health support, if you start the conversation then and treat it as normal, then more guys might actually seek help, listen to their family more than their male friends and actually save lives.
I think it's okay and kind of necessary. I know that many people think why bother them with that because they are still kids, but this is the age range when depression and some other mental disorders started for many people. Just because they are kids, it doesn't mean they aren't going through some stuff. I think having a talk with them about it would make them understand their feelings and what's going on better, and that they wouldn't be scared to reach out for help.
I think it's important for parents to talk with their children about mental health at any age. Especially when they are in elementary school. They need to know they can talk about how they're feeling or whats going on in their minds. They need to feel comfortable enough to discuss any topic with the parent and not feel judged or feel embarrassed by the stigma of talking about our feelings. 🌼🤗
They do need to know so keep the dialogue open, gloss over what those disorders are and mention you’re willing to answer any questions they have. So just keep it open, and for those that have kids you want to be your kids safe place, you can be a friend and a parent at the same time and someone your kid can confide in.
My 12yr old was diagnosed with autism and adhd when. He was 8 and has a lot of difficulties speaking about his emotions as well as understanding his autism and adhd. We've always been open with him and encourage him to speak on these topics. In my family my parents made it clear from a young age that everything and anything is open for conversation so it's never been an issue or awkward to speak to the about any topic and I try to do the same with my child
It is very okay and necessary. Kids also go through a bunch of emotions and mental issues and no one ever talks about it. Perhaps you won't talk to a kid about this subject the same way you you would to an adult but yea I think is very important for them to know that they also have a voice that matters.
depends on the kids, some are too suggestive and are likely to treat it as "instructions" but some are more able to process it, its a tricky balance, its good for kids to know more but also, good for them not to be too overwhelmed by it all
Yea of course wouldn't go much in depth, and you're right it depends on the kid for me too. Working with them I noticed some are little more mature than others about certain topics. They're all unique so have different mindsets and experiences.
At that age they probably already know more than you think. And I think that there is an age appropriate way to explain most things to kids at any age. Kids won't ask questions if they aren't ready to hear some kind of an answer.
I don't see any reason to talk to them about it. Just let them be kids instead of stuffing their heads full of all kinds of worries that don't concern them.
You can explain, but most won't get it or be able to relate or empathize with it at that age, but you have to start somewhere and thats probably a good age to starting thinking about it. If its necessary for your family that is.
Too much for them, you start putting thoughts in their heads its like planting seeds, they get enough of that in schools and on social media these days.
I think it's fine, especially if you're letting them know what to look for and how help looks like. I doubt most will care though or even pay attention.
Bro by that age kids are starting to watch porn, starting to masturbate, dating, all of it, they can handle talking about depression lol kids aren't as naive as people think
Not really. Most turn 14 during your first year of high school. If your ten, 4 years is 40% of your life. nearly half. Half of your life is not close to anything. Its only when your older that a few years doesn't equate to much. So from an adult perspective it seems that way but to a child 2-4 years is an incredibly long time with lots of development going in in the meantime.
Correct, but 10 years old is still old enough to learn about the real world.
Women like you are the reason there are so many weak men nowadays. You're overprotective and make kids mature much later in life. 16 year olds back in the day used to be considered "men" and have all responsibilities.
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