Addressing mental health and well-being in the classroom invites warmth and love without even trying. Kids feel welcomed and recognized by creating normalcy around the way they feel and why they feel that way. Each child comes from different backgrounds and are on different mental journeys. As teachers we need to take into consideration the way they feel on the inside. Especially if children in the classroom struggle behaviorally, their mental health is somehow struggling, and it’s important to do everything we can to help.

Children feel most comforted realizing that their feelings are valid and heard. They only will build more trust and let their guards down to experience a better time being taught and soak up information better.

All in all, I think it is so crucial to create an environment in the classroom that has children feel more understood and heard. Exercises like a sharing time after lessons at the end of the day, or a storybook lesson on feelings at the beginning of the year making it clear that you as the teacher are there for them through thick and thin is a great way to make them feel comforted.