Children’s Mental Health Week 2025 brings us a powerful theme: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself. It’s all about helping children develop self-awareness, emotional resilience, and confidence—key ingredients for mental well-being. And what better way to explore this than through the beloved Inside Out characters, who bring emotions to life in a way children can understand?
Why Self-Awareness Matters
Understanding our emotions is the first step toward managing them. When children can recognise and name their feelings, they are better equipped to express themselves, build positive relationships, and handle challenges.
Think of Riley, the main character in Inside Out. Her emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—each play an important role in shaping how she experiences the world. Just like Riley, every child has a unique mix of emotions, and learning to embrace them is a crucial part of growth.
Meet Your Emotions: The Inside Out Guide to Self-Discovery
Encouraging children to ‘know themselves’ means helping them recognise that all emotions have a purpose. Here’s how we can use the Inside Out characters to support this journey:
- Joy – Teaches children to embrace happiness and gratitude but also understand that they don’t need to feel happy all the time.
- Sadness – Reminds us that it’s okay to feel down and that sadness can bring people together.
- Anger – Helps children understand frustration and injustice while learning healthy ways to express it.
- Fear – Shows the importance of caution and bravery in the face of challenges.
- Disgust – Encourages personal boundaries and decision-making.
By helping children recognise these emotions, we empower them to manage their feelings rather than be overwhelmed by them.
From Knowing to Growing
Once children understand their emotions, they can start developing strategies to support their mental health:
- Naming emotions – Simply saying, “I feel frustrated” or “I feel excited” helps children process their feelings.
- Coping strategies – Whether it’s deep breathing, drawing, or talking to a trusted adult, having tools to manage emotions is key.
- Growth mindset – Encouraging children to see challenges as opportunities to learn helps them develop resilience.
- Mindfulness and self-care – Taking time to relax, be present, and enjoy activities that bring joy is essential for well-being.
How Can Parents and Educators Help?
- Create a safe space for emotions – Let children know that all feelings are welcome and that expressing them is a strength, not a weakness.
- Use storytelling and play – Books, movies, and role-play help children explore emotions in a fun and engaging way.
- Model emotional regulation – When adults show healthy ways to manage emotions, children learn by example.
Final Thoughts
Children’s Mental Health Week is a great reminder that self-awareness is the foundation of emotional well-being. By helping children know themselves, we equip them with the tools to grow themselves into confident, resilient individuals.
This week, let’s all take a moment to check in with our emotions—just like Riley and her Inside Out team—and support the children in our lives to do the same.