We all have mental health – even babies! Just as physical health enables us to have the energy we need to work and live our lives, mental health allows us to have positive relationships, cope with life’s challenges, and manage our emotions.
The process of learning these skills begins at birth, as infants build attachments and trust with caregivers, learn how to calm themselves down, and later, to recognize emotions.
Like any skill, children develop social and emotional abilities gradually – with lots of support from caregivers as they learn.
Social emotional well-being allows children to manage and express emotions in healthy ways, form close relationships, and learn.
Starting at birth, caring and consistent relationships give children a foundation of safety and encouragement to explore the world around them. Supportive relationships allow children to express their feelings in a healthy way, have compassion for others, and learn the difference between right and wrong.
Alabama Department of
Early Childhood Education
RSA Dexter Avenue Building
445 Dexter Avenue, Suite 2050
Montgomery, Alabama 36104
Phone: 334-224-3171
Fax: 334-353-0362
