At Wellies Day Nursery, children’s mental health is at the forefront of our teaching and learning approach. From 9th–15th February 2026, we will be proudly supporting Children’s Mental Health Week, using this important time to focus on connection, communication and wellbeing across our nursery community.
Children’s Mental Health Week is an opportunity to highlight how meaningful connections with family, friends and peers play a vital role in supporting children’s emotional wellbeing. Feeling connected helps children develop confidence, resilience and a strong sense of belonging, all of which are essential foundations in the early years.
Why Connection Is So Important for Children
Positive mental health is closely linked to feeling connected to others. When children feel secure in their relationships, they are more likely to express their emotions, explore confidently and build healthy social skills.
At Wellies Day Nursery, we encourage children to connect with others in meaningful and rewarding ways. Connecting with peers not only supports social development but also helps to reduce negative impacts on mental health, such as feelings of loneliness or isolation. Through everyday interactions, children learn how to build friendships, show empathy and develop an understanding of the world around them.
Conversational Skills
Developing strong social skills begins with conversation. At nursery, children are regularly supported to practise conversational skills through group activities, role play and everyday interactions with peers and adults.
As role models in children’s lives, the actions and expressions we use are often mirrored by them. By modelling friendly greetings, showing genuine interest, smiling, nodding and listening attentively, we help children understand how to start conversations and show interest in what others have to say.
These simple but powerful interactions teach children:
How to initiate conversations
How to listen and respond appropriately
How to read body language and facial expressions
How to build confidence when communicating with others
These skills are essential in forming positive connections and strong friendships.
Talking About Feelings
Talking about feelings is not only beneficial for children’s mental health, but also helps them to understand the emotions of others in day-to-day interactions. At Wellies Day Nursery, we encourage open discussions about both positive and negative feelings, helping children recognise that all emotions are valid.
During Children’s Mental Health Week, we will be supporting children to name and talk about their emotions in an age-appropriate way. This helps children feel understood and supported, making it easier for them to manage and regulate their feelings.
You can continue these conversations at home by asking questions such as:
What made you happy today?
What was your favourite part of the day?
How are you feeling today?
Did anything make you feel sad today?
These questions provide a great starting point for meaningful discussions and help children begin to recognise emotional cues in others, supporting deeper connections.
Encouraging Hobbies, Play and Friendships
A key way to help children connect with others is by supporting relationships both inside and outside of the nursery environment. Encouraging hobbies, shared interests and play opportunities allows children to socialise while doing activities they enjoy.
Surrounding children with different people in a variety of settings helps them develop a positive relationship with connecting to others. These experiences also give children something to look forward to, which supports emotional wellbeing and happiness.
Connecting With Our Community
At Wellies Day Nursery, we believe that connection extends beyond the nursery walls. We actively encourage positive conversations about community and the importance of supporting others.
By learning about kindness, helping those around us and understanding the needs of people of all ages, children begin to develop empathy and compassion. These experiences help children understand how important connection is in avoiding loneliness and supporting positive mental health across the wider community.
Supporting Children’s Wellbeing Together
Children’s Mental Health Week is a valuable reminder that emotional wellbeing is built through everyday moments, listening, talking, playing and connecting.
From 9th–15th February 2026, we look forward to continuing these important conversations with our children and families, working together to support confident, happy and emotionally resilient children at Wellies Day Nursery.
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