KIDS MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS IN THE CLASSROOM & ON THE TRACK

Last week was Mental Health Week and this year’s theme was 'mental health starts with our children', an important message that we are asking our community to champion.

This year's theme reinforces how critical the early years are for lifelong brain development and functioning, learning, and wellbeing. Whether in the classroom, at home or at your local Little Athletics Centre, focusing on fundamental skills is paramount to developing healthy lives.

Many parents utilise community sport like Little Athletics to reinforce and develop kids' fundamental physical and social skills. However, community sport and partners like Kumon, can play a more significant role in facilitating the overall mental health and wellbeing of your child.

Research released by the Australian Government's Institute of Family Studies has identified that in 2013–14, nearly 14% of children and adolescents aged 4–17 had a mental health condition. This an issue, which if prolonged and not identified, can continue to affect a child’s future development and wellbeing. According to the World Health Organisation, mental health conditions account for 16% of the global burden of disease and injury in people aged 10-19 years, with suicide the fourth leading cause of death in 15-19 year olds.

The connection been active lives and healthy minds is well documented. Participation in sport can help address poor mental health and can reduce stress, anxiety and depression. By promoting a sense of value, belonging and accomplishment, Little Athletics Centres are an example of sport’s ability to champion the importance of getting kids active.

While sport can help build positive experiences, the impact of poor mental health in children can extend beyond the track. For example, the Institute of Family Studies identified that ‘children with common emotional or behavioural problems have shown lower academic achievement during primary school than those without such difficulties, particularly among boys.’

However, the Institute has identified that through positive and structured reinforcement, a child can 'improve their social-emotional wellbeing at any stage during childhood', which is where our partners can help.  

Kumon helps develop sustainable study routines and your child's confidence to tackle challenges in the classroom. Kumon’s theory and practice of individualised learning and study at the “just-right” level means kids progress at their own speed and in their own time.  As a result, Kumon students build self-esteem, learn that they can do anything if they try, and develop the ability to take on new challenges for themselves.

By reinforcing positive learning processes and self-learning, you can help prevent mental burnout and promote a healthy life balance. To find out more about how Kumon's programmes can help your children achieve their goals and find your local Kumon Education Centre, click HERE.

Research quoted in this article was sourced from the Australian Institute of Family Studies's 'Social-emotional wellbeing from childhood to early adolescence' resource sheet. To read the resource, please click HERE.

For more information, contact Athletics West at admin@athleticswest.com.au or call 08 6272 0480.

This article is sponsored by Kumon Australia.