Early Childhood Mental Health

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Identifying Children with Mental Health Challenges

Always Consider:

• How severe is the behavior?

• How many weeks or months has the behavior been occurring?

• How long does the behavior last (e.g., minutes, hours)?

• How does the behavior compare with the behavior of other children of the same age?

• Are there events at home or in child care that make the behavior better or worse?

• Are there cultural factors influencing the behavior? 

•  What has the child learned about relationships or consequences based on past experiences?  

Behaviors that may indicate emotional or mental health problems in Infants and Toddlers

• Displays very little emotion

• Does not show interest in sights sounds or touch

• Rejects or avoids being touched or held or playing with others

• Unusually difficult to soothe or console

• Unable to comfort or calm self

• Extremely fearful or on-guard

• Does not turn to familiar adults for comfort or help

• Exhibits sudden behavior changes

• Sleeping and feeding issues

• Delays in meeting developmental milestones

Behaviors that may indicate emotional or mental health problems in Preschool Children

• Cannot or has trouble playing with others or objects

• Absence of language or communication

• Frequently fights with others

• Very sad

• Unusually fearful

• Inappropriate responses to situations (e.g., laughs instead of cries)

• Withdrawn

• Extremely active

• Loss of earlier skills (e.g., toileting, language, motor)

• Sudden behavior changes

• Very accident prone

• Destructive to self and/or others

• Sleeping issues

• Being asked to leave a daycare or preschool setting due to behaviors. (losing placements in these programs)