A Focus on Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health

June 2024

Social Emotional Learning Outdoors 

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

Spring is here! As the weather trends warmer and sunnier, children will be ready to get outside and play (adults too)! Though the end of the school year may mean a looser structure to the school day, social emotional learning does not have to stop.

This month’s newsletter shares ways to extend social emotional (S-E) learning beyond the walls of the classroom. Topics include outdoor games that support S-E learning, creating outdoor calming spots, and how to bring the indoors outside. Hopefully, you will find helpful information to enhance your warm weather practices for yourself and the children! 

Coming in July: Working through Challenging Moments with Young Children

Did You Know?

When is it Too Hot or Cold for Outside Play. Watching the weather is part of a child care providers job. Planning for playtime, field trips, or weather safety is part of the daily routine. The changes in weather require the child care provider to monitor the health and safety of children. Read more to help understand weather conditions and age related guidance.

Social Emotional Benefits of Outdoor Play

Social Emotional Benefits of Nature Play. Recently evidence-based research has documented the benefits of daily exposure to nature contributing to children’s physical, cognitive and social-emotional development. 

How Playgrounds Can Boost Social-Emotional Development in Children. While playgrounds are super fun and allow kids to run off their excess energy, they are far more beneficial than that. Social-emotional benefits include, inspire creative, imaginative play, build resilience, foster compassion and problem solving.

A Practical Guide to Taking Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Outdoors. Most of us know that learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom. Children are constantly taking in information and figuring out how to use it to their daily lives, even when playing outside! It’s easy to see how children are learning to use and control their gross motor skills while playing outdoors, but social-emotional learning is happening outside, too!

The Outdoor Classroom

Outdoor Classroom in Early Childhood Education. An outdoor classroom is a learning environment outside of a traditional indoor classroom setting. While outdoor classrooms may take on many different forms, they all share a common goal: to create an immersive learning experience that takes advantage of the unique benefits of being outdoors.

Getting started with an Outdoor Classroom. An elementary school teacher describes the activities and lessons she has moved outside in an effort to help students connect with nature.

Setting Up a Quiet Space Outdoors. Tips on creating your own outdoor quiet space.

Outdoor Social Emotional Activities

Using Nature to Build Social Emotional Skills. Spending time in nature creates a perfect pathway to build social-emotional skills. Just a few of these skills include coping strategies, empathy, attention, confidence, relationships, mindfulness, and self-awareness.

Outdoor Activities to Build Social Skills. Here are some activities to build social skills outside the four walls of the classroom.

20 Educational Outdoor Activities for Preschoolers. Outdoor activities for children have numerous physical, social-emotional, and cognitive benefits and promote an appreciation for nature.                will

Outdoor Quiet and Calm Activities

16 Quiet and Calm Sit Spot Activities for Kids to Enjoy Outdoors. A sit spot is a place away from distractions where kids can sit, be quiet, and observe nature. (High-traffic and noisy spots aren’t ideal.) It’s a favorite place outdoors that can be re-visited across the seasons.

Yoga for Kids: A Walk Through the Garden. Yoga for kids is a fabulous way for kids to be out in nature and learn.

5 Outdoor Mindfulness Activities for Preschoolers. Try these five outdoor mindfulness activities for preschoolers to help children wind down and refocus. 

Family Focus

Playing Outside: Why It’s Important for Kids. Ways that you and your kids can get a physical and emotional boost form playing outside and spending time in nature. Consider these outdoor play ideas for infants through grade-school age kids. 

The Benefits of Outdoor Play: Why It Matters. Outdoor play is beneficial for children beyond the physical activity it provides. It helps them socialize, understand their bodies better, engage in imaginative play and enjoy the outdoors.

Playing Outside in the Yard: 8 tips to Keep it Fun & Safe for Kids. Do you have a backyard or other outdoor space at home where your kids play? Follow these tips to help keep them safe while they're having fun.

Mental Health Supports from the Pennsylvania Key

Office Hours

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.

Accessing IECMHC Services

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.

Accessing SACCMHC Services

With the generous support of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) the Pennsylvania Key IECMH Consultation team has expanded to include four mental Health consultants to support School Age Child Care (SACC) programs participating in Keystone STARS.  This service is 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.