Resources for Starting Conversations

• You can support children's mental health and create a healthy relationship by regularly talking with them about their thoughts, feelings and experiences.
• Establish routines for checking in with them when there are fewer distractions such as during car rides, family dinners or at bedtime.
• Share some of your thoughts and feelings to show children that all emotions are OK and discuss the coping strategies you use.
• Encourage children to share by asking open-ended questions about various topics, not just emotions or behaviors. If children don't want to talk, respect their space and try again later.

• Sometimes the way we respond to kids sharing something can make them stop talking. Keep conversations going by staying calm and using open, interested body language to show you are listening.
• Let children lead the conversation and use prompts like, "Tell me more about that" rather than asking a lot of questions.
• Practice stating what you heard your child say to show you understand and encourage further sharing.
• Try to assure them that their feelings are OK. If they get upset or the conversation is difficult, take a break.

Your child has opened up during a conversation and has told what you what’s going on. But you have questions, concerns… or you want to provide advice. How do you react? What do you do?

• Get in the habit of discussing mental health before problems arise. You don’t need to have all the answers.
• Mental health is how we think, feel and act. Talk about feelings openly by sharing your own and how you handle them.
• Choose a calm time to discuss concerns, listen to your child's feelings, and seek professional help if needed.

Kids have their own thoughts, opinions and goals. And our conversations with them can sometimes wind up in arguments or frustration. Learn how you can set limits and rules while continuing to have a positive relationship with your child, despite having tough conversations.

• Building a strong relationship with your child helps reduce online risks and can improve their digital literacy.
• Letting your child guide you through the platforms they use while expressing curiosity can encourage more sharing.
• Spending time alongside your child when they’re online and seeing their favorite content will help you understand what they’re seeing and thinking about.

• Children often feel the impact of financial challenges, even if they don’t understand it. Learn how to talk about money worries that supports kids’ emotional well-being and mental health.
• Learn how to choose language, answer questions openly and reassure children that they are safe and not responsible for the situation.
• Ongoing conversations can help kids feel safe and secure during these uncertain times.

• Children are often aware of their parents’ mental health struggles, and when it’s not talked about, it can lead kids to feel anxious, wonder if they are the cause or lead them to try and fix their parents’ problem.
• Starting open and age-appropriate conversations can reassure children and reduce stigma around mental health conditions.
• When you talk about and show self-care (like therapy or coping strategies), it instills hope and normalizes mental health as something that can be worked on.

Talking about politics can be tricky and may lead to difficult social interactions and strong emotions. Yet no matter our personal political views, most of us want to raise the next generation to be responsible and engaged citizens.

Discussing substance use early and often benefits children’s mental and physical health. Your ongoing dialogue may persuade your child from drinking or vaping as teens.

• Talking to children about substance use is important
• Substance use can impact a teen’s physical health, mental health and increase risk taking
• We have suggestions about when and how to start with questions you can download
• Help them feel comfortable sharing their thoughts by listening and avoiding big reactions

Kids often become aware of current events due to conversations with peers at school or through social media. Our experts have ways to start a conversation so kids are getting correct information and have an opportunity to share how they are feeling.

It’s important to have regular conversations with your child about how they’re feeling and what they’re thinking about. But when it comes to food choices and body image, it can feel challenging to know how to talk about it in a way that won’t be damaging to a child’s mental health.

If you are unsure how to start the conversation with your kids, use these resources to help guide you – from setting an example to asking the right questions.

Neurodiverse children might have trouble talking about their experiences or feelings. We have ideas to help deepen your relationship and improve mental health.

You can support kids who are non-verbal making efforts to communicate their thoughts or feelings, work to implement visual or non-vocal supports, and show interest in the things that the child is excited about.