By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo
Tema, July 08, GNA-Parents and caregivers have been encouraged to create safe and supportive home environments where children can freely express their emotions without fear of judgment.
Mr Ridwan Oyenuga, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SereniMind, a youth mental health platform, said that although children experienced fear, sadness, disappointment, loneliness, stress, and anxiety, many lacked the confidence or language to explain their feelings.
Mr Oyenuga, speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said adults therefore played a critical role in helping children navigate emotional challenges.
“Children experience emotions just as adults do,” he said, explaining that supporting children’s emotional wellbeing was not about making them weak but helping them develop resilience and healthy coping skills.
He urged parents to avoid rushing to judge children’s behaviour and instead seek to understand the emotions behind their actions.
“The simple act of listening, showing empathy, and creating safe spaces for conversation can make a significant difference in a child’s life,” he said.
He reminded parents that every child’s behaviour had a story and called for greater understanding of children’s emotional experiences.
Mr Oyenuga further called on schools to also play a more active role in supporting children’s emotional wellbeing, saying teachers were often the first to notice changes in pupils’ behaviour.
He said teachers spent considerable time with children and were well placed to identify emotional challenges before they became more serious.
He noted that schools could promote children’s emotional wellbeing by creating supportive learning environments and fostering positive relationships among pupils.
According to him, anti-bullying initiatives and ensuring that pupils had trusted adults they could speak to were equally important.
“Teachers often spend significant time with children and may notice changes in behaviour before anyone else,” he said.
Mr Oyenuga said schools had an important responsibility to support children’s emotional development alongside their academic growth, encouraging educational institutions to create environments where children felt safe, understood, and supported.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo