A Focus on Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health

March 2023
Communication
This newsletter focuses on sharing information on infant/early childhood mental health and
the importance of relationship-based approaches and supports that help infants and young children feel safe, supported, and valued by the adults around them. The newsletter, and the Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) program, is made possible by a partnership between the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and the Pennsylvania Key.
Welcome to the March issue of the IECMH newsletter! This month we continue to explore reasons requests for services are submitted with Communication.

All behavior is a form of communication. From the Michigan Alliance for Families, “Everybody communicates through behavior. An infant may cry when she is hungry or wet, just like an adult may yawn when bored at work. Adults and children are communicating something through their behavior during every moment in every day, even if they are not aware of it”.

As adults, it is our responsibility to attempt to figure out what the child is trying to communicate with their behavior to us. A child may use behavior to gain connection, escape a non-preferred activity, manage sensory needs, or to have basic needs met. The behaviors we experience lead us to uncover the meaning behind it.
It can be especially difficult and stressful for any teacher to support a child whose behavior is concerning or disruptive, and a language barrier certainly complicates the issue. Teachers and caregivers will find this information helpful in identifying strategies for working with dual language learners and their families.


Dual Language Learners with Challenging Behaviors. Children communicate so much through their behavior. Teachers and caregivers will find this article useful in identifying strategies for working with dual language learners exhibiting challenging behaviors.
Studies show there is a definite link between how much parents and caregivers talk to their children, and children's language development and readiness for school. 
 
Communicating Effectively with Children. Rewarding interactions with children require an understanding of how children of different ages communicate and what they like to talk about. Adults must communicate in a way that relates to the age and interests of the child.

Language Development and Types of Communication 2:47. Listen to a brief introduction about language development and the different forms communication can take!
Young children let us know what they need and want through behavior long before they have words. They give us cues to help us understand what they are trying to communicate. It is when we understand the meaning of children’s behaviors, we’re able to better provide nurturing and responsive care.
 
Talk, Read and Sing Together Every Day! in English and Spanish. A language-rich environment is one in which babies and toddlers are surrounded by talking, singing, and reading and have many opportunities throughout their day, across all activities, to communicate with others and engage in back and forth interactions. A language-rich environment is important to children’s early brain development, and can have strong effects on early language, vocabulary, reading, and math skills, as well as on children’s social-emotional development.
 
Toddler Talking and Communication: What to Expect and How to Help. Toddler talking is about learning and trying out new words. Encourage communication by talking with children about everyday things during daily activities

Nonverbal Communication: Body Language and Tone of Voice. Positive nonverbal communication includes smiles, body language and one of voice. It can improve relationships with children and guide their behavior.
Once we understand what a child is communicating through their behavior, we can respond to the child and not their behavior by helping them find positive, socially acceptable ways to communicate with others. Remember…learning new things takes time for young children!
 
Teaching Your Child about Feelings. Helping children recognize and name how they feel can help them better express their feelings, and this can make a big difference in their behavior. Accepting a child’s feelings can be a powerful strategy to help your child feel seen, heard, and understood.

Talk, Read & Sing Together Every Day! in English and Spanish. A language rich environment is one in which children are surrounded by talking, singing, and reading and have many opportunities throughout their day, across all activities, to communicate with others and engage in back-and-forth conversations. A rich language environment is important to children’s early learning, and can have strong effects on early language, vocabulary, reading, and math skills, as well as on children’s social-emotional development.
 
Conversation Skills for Children: Learning to Talk and Listen to Others. Adults can help children develop conversation skills by role-modeling, prompting, guiding and practicing. These skills help children’s development and relationships.
When you work to understand the function of a student’s behavior, you’ll be better prepared to help students identify what they need and how to communicate that more appropriately.

Understanding Behavior as Communication: A Teacher’s Guide. Understanding that behavior is a form of communication can help teachers reframe what they’re seeing and not take student behavior personally.
 
Developing Emotional Literacy Across the Grade Levels. Teaching students how to identify and express their own emotions – and consider those of others- empowers them and sets them up for learning.
 
10 Ways to Help Your Grade School Child. Children in grade school may need you to help them work on their communication skills. 
When you talk, read and sing with a child – even before they can use words – you’re helping them learn. Research shows that talking, reading and singing with a child every day from birth helps build their brains as well as important language, math, reading and social skills for use in school and beyond.
 
How to Support Your Child’s Communication Skills. This resource provides strategies to help parents and caregivers understand baby communication and support the development of communications skills in young children.

Reinforcing Language Skills for Our Youngest Learners. Language acquisition can be a wonderful process for all parents to witness. Especially when we acknowledge that we can take part in helping children learn and acquire the language skills they will need to communicate clearly.
 
7 Tips for Effective Communication with Your School-aged Child. Talking with your child is a daily event. Get tips to help you tune-in during those time when your child needs your attention.
IECMH Consultation helps adults strengthen their relationships with young children and build capacity to respond to children’s social-emotional needs. IECMHC can help reduce caregiver stress, as well as increase caregivers’ reflective practice skills.
 
IECMH Consultants are available by appointment to provide IECMHC Virtual Office Hours consultation via telephone or video conference. IECMHC Virtual Office Hours is a short-term, collaborative, problem-solving conversation to help you find next steps for: Child Social-Emotional Concerns | Child Behavioral or Developmental Concerns Emotional Well-being of Teachers and Caregivers | Partnering with Families.
 
Appointments are held on the first and third Fridays of the month, or other days/times by request. Get more info.
The Pennsylvania Key has streamlined the process for Keystone STARS programs to request Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC). Child care providers can request services by using the Request for Service Form (PDF). Completed forms can be submitted via email PAIECMH@pakeys.org or faxed to 717-213-3749.
 
Programs and families can contact the program leadership directly at PAIECMH@pakeys.org with questions or concerns.
With the generous support of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), the Pennsylvania Key IECMH Consultation team was able to add staff member, Lauren Walter, to support School Age Child Care (SACC) programs participating in Keystone STARS.  This service will be primarily tele-consultation support. Click here to request support.  
Share your feedback! We'd like to hear what you think about infant early childhood mental health. Are there resources you'd like to see? Questions you have? Tell us! Send your feedback to PAIECMH@pakeys.org.