Children 3 to 5 Years

When is it time to get help?

Like most mental or physical health issues, it’s always better to seek help sooner rather than later. This is especially true in children who are exhibiting signs of mental health issues or are suspected of having developmental or learning disorders. It’s important for parents to learn how to deal with their children’s issues and how to best support their child. If you are finding that your young child is behaving different from normal, by more frequent or severe emotional outbursts, by being excluded from playdates, by causing turmoil in the family, or experiencing the symptoms listed above, it’s likely time to seek help – especially if they’ve recently suffered a traumatic event.

Treatment methods for mental health issues in young children

There are various treatment methods that are effective for young children (or people who are non-verbal for other reasons). They include:

• Play therapy refers to a large number of treatment methods, all of which make use of one or more of the natural benefits of play, using toys, dolls, games, etc. Play allows children a safe psychological distance from their problems and allows them to express their true thought and feelings in ways best suited to their developmental level.
• Art therapy clients use their imagination to approach and explore their emotions, feelings, and thoughts. Especially useful in young people and people with developmental delays, when their motor skills exceed their verbal skills.

Treating children this young will always involve parents. Effective treatment methods include:

• Family systems therapy looks at the family as one emotional unit. This therapeutic approach looks at the relationships within the family and the structure as a whole.
• Structural family therapy involves looking at the structures within the family unit. Changing the underlying structure tends to cause a ripple effect on the family. This therapy analyzes the hierarchical structure, subsystems, and boundaries within the family.

Your therapist may also recommend couples counselling and/or parenting support programs such as the Triple P Positive Parenting Program.