Student Wellbeing

From the Co-ordinator of Counselling and Student Health

Supporting Wellbeing 

Supporting the wellbeing of children and young people does not need to be complicated or overwhelming. In fact, many of the most effective strategies are simple, everyday actions that can be woven naturally into family life. Small, consistent habits can make a meaningful difference in promoting your child’s wellbeing, as well as your own. 

Every family is unique and will face their own set of challenges. Some periods may feel calm and manageable, while others may bring stress or uncertainty. Regardless of where your family is right now, introducing these supportive practices can help strengthen your child’s wellbeing and nurture their mental health. The following approaches not only offer immediate benefits but also contribute to long‑term wellbeing for your whole family, helping everyone feel more supported, connected, and ready to navigate whatever comes next.

Maintain Good Relationships

Building a strong, positive relationship with your child is one of the best ways to support their wellbeing. Simple, everyday moments can help you stay connected and show your child they are valued and loved. Ways to do this include:

• Spend time sharing family memories or stories. These moments help children feel grounded and connected to their family.
• Try to eat a meal together when you can. Shared mealtimes create space for conversation, laughter, and checking in with each other.
• Create and keep family rituals and routines. Simple and consistent routines help children feel safe and build a sense of belonging. Examples of these include having pizza night on Friday evenings, completing a puzzle / playing a card game after dinner, or going for bike ride as a family on Sunday afternoons. 
• Support your child’s friendships. Staying connected to friends is an important part of your child’s overall wellbeing and helps them feel socially supported.

Set Age-appropriate Rules and Boundaries 

Setting boundaries is one of the most helpful things parents can do to support their child’s wellbeing. Boundaries aren’t about being strict. They are about creating a safe, predictable environment where children can grow with confidence. In addition, implementing rules and boundaries promote the development of healthy independence and help to reduce any potential conflict or confusion. As your child develops, take the time to talk through and agree upon expectations as this shows that you recognise their growing independence and respect their maturity. 

Practice Kindness and Gratitude

Gratitude focuses on taking a moment to notice and appreciate the people, experiences, and small pleasures that bring joy into our lives. Practising gratitude can have a powerful impact on wellbeing because it helps strengthen relationships and encourages more positive thinking.

You can support your child to build this habit by talking with them and writing down three things they are grateful for at the end of each day. This does not have to be complicated or focused on achievement. Rather, focus on the simple moments that sometimes pass us by. 

Being kind to others also gives a powerful boost to wellbeing. When children practise small acts of kindness, like lending a hand, sharing something they enjoy, offering a kind word, or saying thank you, they learn to understand how others feel and develop important skills like empathy and compassion. Kindness helps children and young people feel more connected to others, which strengthens their sense of belonging. 

Promote Help‑seeking

Asking for help can feel uncomfortable for many children and young people, especially if they are worried about being judged or don’t want to burden others. That is why it is so important to reassure your child that reaching out is a normal and healthy part of coping with challenges. When help‑seeking is encouraged early and practised often, children learn that it is okay to express how they are feeling and that support is available when they need it. The following ideas can be helpful: 

• Checking in with your child shows that you are interested in their thoughts and feelings, and helps them to feel safe opening up, even about small problems.
• Children and young people need reassurance that difficult emotions are a normal part of life, and that big feelings and issues will pass. When you acknowledge their feelings without minimising them, you help them build emotional understanding and resilience.
• When your child shares something with you, try to pause, listen fully, and respond with empathy. Being curious builds connection, while interrogation can close it down. Often children and young people just to be heard, not be questioned or given a solution.
• Modelling help‑seeking yourself. Talk about times you reached out and how it helped. This shows your child that seeking support is a strength, not a weakness.
• As young people grow older, they benefit from knowing multiple pathways to support. Not just from parents, but from other family members, school staff, or in the community. Encourage the use of reputable spaces, such as Kids Helpline, rather than relying on social media or AI for assistance.

Develop Healthy Habits 

Children benefit greatly from developing healthy habits because these routines support their physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. Healthy habits include being active, getting enough sleep, and eating a variety of nutritious foods. Being active helps children use their energy, strengthen their bodies, and improve their mood. Regular movement also helps them to concentrate and feel more confident. Getting quality sleep allows your child’s brain and body to rest and recharge. Well rested children can regulate their emotions better and find it easier to focus when at school. Eating a variety of foods gives your child the fuel they need throughout the day. Nutritious meals support steady energy levels and healthy growth.

Reduce screen time and social media use 

Children and young people benefit from reducing their access to screens and social media. There is growing research that demonstrates that greater screen time and social media use leads to significantly worse mental health outcomes for children and young people. When children and young people are constantly exposed to curated images, comparison with peers, and fast‑paced content, it can place additional pressure on their developing sense of self. Excessive screen time can also interfere with sleep, reduce opportunities for face‑to‑face connection, and limit time spent on activities that support wellbeing, such as play, movement, and meaningful family interactions. When the whole family takes breaks from screens and engages in balanced offline activities, healthier emotional regulation and wellbeing is supported overall.