Share your stories with MyFampal of how you deal with behavioural/mental health issues with your DCs – £300 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

[EmmaMumsnet]

To coincide with the launch of the MyFampal new app called MyFampal Parent, they have asked us to find out how you deal with behavioural and mental health issues with your children - whatever their age. The new app is designed to help parents to check, monitor and help take control of their family’s emotional wellbeing - by enabling families to identify, monitor and pre-empt issues before they take root.

Here’s what the team at MyFampal have to say: “Whether their children’s behaviour is considered ‘normal’ or healthy is a concern for all parents. Behavioural, emotional and mental health issues affect many families and vary hugely in form, often making them difficult to spot. It’s difficult to know for sure whether children are just going through a rough patch or struggling with something more concerning. MyFampal Parent is an easy-to-use app that helps you monitor how well your family functions as a unit and then lets you compare your results against others. In the same way that we take exercise and manage what we eat to maintain fitness, MyFampal Parent is here to help you with your families’ emotional wellbeing. Do download the app, try it for yourselves, and let us know what you think.”

MyFampal would love to hear your views on their App, but also how you have dealt with any potential behavioral, emotional or mental health issues your children have struggled with. At what age or development stage caused you the most concern? Do you have
an approach or method that allowed you to remember the key issues as they happen and keep dialogue open with your children so that they can communicate their emotions to you? Or do you have any techniques for how best to handle continued behavioural issues?

Please share your stories below of how you discovered and got through any tough times with your children - from toddlers to teens or even older adult children. Whether you have helpful feedback on the app or stories of how you got through it all to the other side, or if you are only just beginning to understand whether your DCs behaviour is healthy/’normal’ or they are struggling, MyFampal want to hear your thoughts.

Everyone who posts below will be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnetter will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thank you and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

For me it's all about understanding and support. They need to know you're there for them, no matter what and that you won't scream and shout, but it has to be in their own terms. My eldest was a typical nightmare teenager but even then there would be days when he felt able to confide, knowing he wouldn't be judged, whilst my youngest is ASD and all over the place emotionally but will always coming to us when he calms down. However all children are different and I can't imagine any app being a substitute for a doctor or other specialist and certainly not something I'd ever use

I think there is a huge difference in 'behavioural' and 'mental health' issues - they are often linked, but not always so the approach will be very different, depending on the cause.

Every child is different so it is hard sometimes, to determine what is normal and what isn't, which I believe this app helps in assisting. It can be helpful to compare to a majority to determine a potential 'norm'.

With my daughter, she can be very anxious so I adapt the way I interact with her and how I interpret and respond to her behaviour. Behaviour that may on the surface appear defiant, odd or unusual can be an anxiety response. With your own child you learn to understand their personal behaviours that are unique to them.

My son has slight learning difficulties which makes him very impatient. He thinks tea should be made instantly, he doesn't understand that I have to cook it and constantly asks how long it will be. The best way I have found to deal with this is to give him a timer and set it for how long tea should be, when the timer pings his tea is normally ready. Saves the tantrums. This works with other situations like how long he can play on his games for ect

Thanks everyone for posting on the thread. The winner of the prize draw is Cazj85