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Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us that supporting children's emotional well-being starts at home.

Reading together helps children build emotional resilience, connection, and a sense of security.

Books give children language for big feelings and open the door to important conversations.

Just a few minutes with a book each day can support healthy emotional and social development.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, we often focus on recognizing symptoms, expanding access to care, and reducing stigma, all of which are critical conversations. However, when it comes to young children, mental health begins long before any type of diagnosis, with the everyday interactions that shape how they experience safety, connection and the world around them.

For some, the term “infant mental health” may feel unfamiliar or even confusing, but, as physicians, we know that mental health can be nurtured and supported just like physical health. It is important to remember that healthy brain development and emotional well-being thrive in the context of safe, stable, nurturing environments. Mental health flourishes in the daily activities and encounters that caregivers and children share, allowing children to feel emotionally connected to their caregivers and secure enough to explore, learn, and grow.

In pediatric exam rooms, in addition to promoting good mental and emotional health, we listen for subtle shifts that may suggest a disconnect between a child and caregivers. A parent might mention that their child isn’t sleeping as well, has become more clingy, or is having bigger........

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