Yes, mental health includes babies.
Healthy Development Starts at Home: Six Steps to Building a Nurturing Home Environment
Key Takeaways
- Ensure safety and security
- Show love and nurturing care
- Set age-appropriate limits and expectations
- Use routines to create predictability
- Make time for fun and connection
- Encourage open and respectful communication
Discover how to create a nurturing home environment that supports emotional well-being, cognitive development and lifelong success.
Did you know that what happens in the first three years of your child’s life has a significant impact on their cognitive development and emotional growth? A nurturing home environment provides all the essential ingredients for promoting emotional health in young children and setting them up for lifelong success.
Here are six key ways to foster emotional well-being in children, build resilience, and encourage learning through a supportive home environment.
1. Ensure safety and security
Children thrive in an environment where they feel safe and secure.
A strong, nurturing home environment allows young children to explore, learn, and even make mistakes while knowing they have a trusted adult to rely on. Responding to their needs for comfort and affection — especially when they are sad, upset, or scared — helps children regulate their emotions and builds confidence in their caregivers.
2. Show love and nurturing care
Every family expresses love differently.
Some say “I love you” often, while others show affection through actions. No matter the method, creating a nurturing home environment means ensuring children feel loved and valued. A strong foundation of emotional support builds their confidence and resilience.
3. Set age-appropriate limits and expectations
Children learn best when caregivers set clear, fair, and age-appropriate boundaries.
Young children, especially toddlers, are still developing self-regulation skills. Rather than using shaming or punitive discipline, parents can help guide their children’s behavior in supportive ways:
- Offer appropriate alternatives (“You can’t throw your toy truck, but you can throw this soft ball.”)
- Establish clear, consistent rules when needed (“The car seat is not a choice. It’s a have-to-do. I am going to pick you up now so we can click you in.”)
- Be a role model by helping children express emotions (“You can say, ‘I’m MAD,’ instead of hitting.”)
- Stay calm and composed, as children learn emotional regulation by observing how adults handle stress.
4. Use routines to create predictability
A predictable home environment helps children feel safe and secure.
Daily routines — like consistent mealtimes, bedtime rituals, and morning schedules — allow children to understand what comes next, reducing stress and anxiety.
In addition to daily routines, family traditions — such as Saturday pancake breakfasts, weekly visits to the park, or Sunday dinners with extended family — strengthen family bonds and create lasting memories that contribute to a child’s emotional well-being.
5. Make time for fun and connection
Spending quality time together fosters a supportive home environment for child growth.
Whether it’s playing, reading, or sharing a meal, prioritizing fun and connection builds strong family relationships. Cognitive development in toddlers also benefits from playful interactions, which encourage learning through exploration and engagement.
6. Encourage open and respectful communication
Strong families prioritize healthy communication.
While disagreements happen, teaching children how to express their thoughts and emotions respectfully helps them develop strong interpersonal skills. A home where children feel heard and valued promotes emotional resilience and strengthens family bonds.
The power of a nurturing home environment
By practicing these steps, caregivers create a home environment that fosters child development, emotional security, and lifelong well-being. A loving, stable, and supportive home environment equips children with the resilience and confidence they need to navigate life’s challenges, ensuring they grow, learn, and thrive.
Where did we get these recommendations? Everything we share is based on science and research informed by the Family Strengths Research Project.
There are no "one-size-fits-all" approaches to raising children.
