5 ways to maintain your family's mental health

Supporting your child’s wellbeing is one of the most important foundations for successful learning. At My Primary and Secondary Tutor, we know from years of providing online tutoring across Scotland and the UK that children thrive academically when their family's mental health us strong and stable. 

Children look to their parents, carers and close family as role models. When adults demonstrate healthy coping strategies and good emotional wellbeing, children are far more likely to develop these skills themselves — which directly supports their learning, confidence and progress in tutoring sessions and in school.

To help families feel their best, here are five practical ways to support whole-family mental health — each one making a positive impact on children’s readiness to learn.

1. Connect as a Family

Strong relationships are essential for both emotional wellbeing and effective learning. Since many families are spending more time together at home, there are more opportunities than ever to connect in meaningful ways.

Try:

  • A family walk, cycle or weekly outdoor activity

  • A games night or shared hobby

  • Switching off screens for 10 minutes each evening to talk about your day

These shared moments build trust, strengthen bonds, and help children feel supported — which boosts their confidence when approaching school work or online tutoring sessions.

2. Learn Something New Together

Learning isn’t only for the classroom. When families learn side-by-side, children see that learning is positive, enjoyable and something everyone can benefit from. 

Ideas you can try:

  • Building a Lego project

  • Following a simple recipe together

  • Learning a language as a family (children can even join our online language tutoring sessions!)

Learning builds self-esteem, curiosity and resilience — all skills that support your child’s success in their Scottish education and beyond. 

And don’t forget: our unique Emotions First programme helps pupils understand emotions, improve self-regulation and build healthy learning habits.

3. Practise Mindfulness and Being Present

Mindfulness — or simply taking a few minutes to “pause” — helps children and adults manage stress and stay focused. In our tutoring sessions, we often see that children who practise mindfulness find it easier to concentrate and approach learning calmly.

You can try:

  • Quick breathing exercises

  • Apps like Headspace or Calm

  • A short daily “quiet moment” as a family

Even young children can learn how to sit still, breathe deeply and reflect — something that supports both mental wellbeing and academic success.

4. Move Your Body

Regular movement boosts mental health, improves focus and makes it easier for children to learn. Exercise increases endorphins — the brain’s natural mood-lifters — and helps reduce stress.

Some fun family ideas:

  • A daily walk or cycle

  • A “Supermovers” or dance video before school

  • Trampolining, parkour or other energetic hobbies

Movement helps children come to tutoring sessions with more energy, confidence and enthusiasm.

5. Give Back

Giving kindness, time or support to others boosts wellbeing for the whole family. It teaches children empathy, compassion and gratitude — skills that contribute to emotional resilience.

You might:

  • Choose a charity to support together

  • Collect toys or books for donation

  • Write cards or letters to family or neighbours

Giving doesn’t have to involve money — small acts of kindness have a big impact.

How Our Tutoring Supports Emotional Wellbeing

At My Primary and Secondary Tutor, we know that learning isn’t just about maths and English. It’s about confidence, resilience and emotional literacy — the ability to understand and manage feelings.

Our Emotions First programme helps children:

  • Identify and name emotions

  • Understand why they feel the way they do

  • Develop coping strategies

  • Build confidence in their learning

When children feel emotionally supported at home and in tutoring, they thrive.

Final Thoughts

A healthy family environment supports stronger learning. Whether your child is working with one of our online tutors, joining a small group session or seeking extra help in English or maths, supporting their emotional wellbeing is a crucial part of their success.

If you’d like more information about our tutoring services — or how our Emotions First programme can support your child's wellbeing — we’re here to help.

👉 Visit our website
👉 Email karen@myprimaryandsecondarytutor.com
👉 Ask us about online tutoring across Scotland and the wider UK

At My Primary and Secondary Tutor we provide expert one-to-one and group tuition for pupils across Scotland, the wider UK and online, supporting children from P1 to S6 and Key Stage 1 to GCSE. Our experienced fully qualified teachers are specialists in both the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence and the English National Curriculum, helping pupils who are struggling, have gaps in learning or want to build confidence across a wide range of subjects. We offer tailored support in English, maths, history, geography, physics, modern studies, accounting, economics, business, IT and our unique Emotions First programme designed to nurture children’s emotional wellbeing alongside academic progress. Parents trust our team of tutors to deliver high-quality professional tuition that meets every learner’s needs. Find out more and book a session by emailing karen@myprimaryandsecondarytutor.com or completing our contact us form.

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