Building Emotional Foundations, S2 Ep2
Young children building emotional foundations may not have the words to say, “I’m struggling,” but they still communicate stress, fear, overwhelm, and emotional disregulation through their behavior.
In early childhood, children are learning how to handle stress, feel safe, build healthy relationships, and express emotions they don’t yet have the words to describe.
In this episode of Let’s Talk About It with OhioGuidestone, Kaylin Schaefer, MSW, LISW-S, Youth Program Director at OhioGuidestone, explores with Host Derek Rader how building emotional foundations during early childhood can foster resilience and support mental health throughout life.
As part of our season focused on suicide, self-harm, and prevention, this conversation examines how recognizing children’s emotional needs early, understanding behavior as communication, and creating safe, supportive environments can make a lasting difference.
Kaylin also discusses how self-harm can sometimes become a form of expression when children and adolescents don’t yet have the language or coping skills to communicate what they’re experiencing. By recognizing these signs with curiosity instead of judgment, parents, caregivers, educators, and other trusted adults can help children feel seen, heard, and supported while building emotional foundations for the future.
Whether you’re raising a child, teaching one, or caring for one, this episode offers practical insights to help build strong emotional foundations, because prevention starts long before a crisis, and every supportive conversation matters.
If you or someone you care about is struggling, call or text 988 to connect with trained crisis professionals at any time, day or night. For immediate, life-threatening emergencies, call 911. Talking about mental health can save lives, and every conversation matters.
