Mental Fitness in Early Childhood (0-5 Years)
From birth to age 5, your child is growing and learning every day — physically as well as emotionally, mentally, and socially. It’s an ideal time to start supporting their mental fitness.
Mental and emotional development in early childhood
Your child looks to you for love, learning, and safety. You can help them build skills to manage life’s challenges. By fostering a warm, tender relationship, you’ll help your child feel protected and cared for, laying the foundation for healthy emotional development.
Sleep and exercise can play a big role in healthy development. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following sleep and physical activity guidelines for young children:
| Sleep needs (per 24 hours) |
Physical activity recommendations |
- Newborns (0–3 months): 14–17 hours
- Infants (4–12 months): 12–16 hours (including naps)
- Toddlers (1–2 years): 11–14 hours (including naps)
- Preschoolers (3–5 years): 10–13 hours (including naps)
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- Be physically active throughout the day.
- Include active play, like riding a tricycle, to promote development.
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Ways to support mental fitness in early childhood
Learn how you can support your child’s resilience and mental well-being in early childhood.
Infants (0-1 year)
Spending quality time with your baby helps them develop bonds of love and trust. The way you interact with your infant sets the stage for how they will interact with others.
- Cuddle and hold your baby, giving lots of loving attention, to help them feel cared for and secure
- Talk, read, and sing to your baby — they will find your voice calming
- Play with them when they’re alert and relaxed, and give them a break as they become tired or fussy
Toddlers (1-3 years)
As your child starts to move more, their desire to explore — and be independent — increases. You can help them by setting expectations and modeling behavior:
- Play games that support learning, such as simple puzzles or activities that engage their curiosity like pretend play
- Encourage your child’s independence by letting them help dress and feed themselves
- Give your child attention and praise when they show positive behavior, and limit attention to unwanted behaviors. Teach your child acceptable ways to show that they’re upset and use only very brief timeouts.
Preschoolers (3-5 years)
Your child’s world begins to open up, and interactions with people outside the family will help shape their personality and support independent ways of thinking. As their parent, you’re still that safe person they can turn to for support, so:
- Encourage your child to play with other children so they can learn the value of sharing and friendship
- Let them help you with simple, age-appropriate chores, and guide them through the steps to solve problems
- Provide clear, consistent boundaries and realistic expectations by explaining and modeling desired behaviors. When you tell them “no,” follow up with what they should do instead.
