Addressing Project HELP in
Preschool Missions Discipleship
What Is Project HELP?
Project HELP is an initiative of WMU that identifies a critical issue and seeks to raise the level of awareness of that issue and provide practical approaches anyone can implement to open the door for meeting needs and sharing the gospel.
Since the launch of Project HELP in 1994, WMU has focused on a variety of critical issues including hunger, poverty, human exploitation, PTSD, refugees, and mental health.
To learn more about Project HELP and the current critical issue, visit wmu.com/projecthelp.
Addressing Project HELP in Preschool Missions Discipleship
People of all ages are affected by the critical issues addressed by Project HELP. And people of all ages can — in age-appropriate ways — learn about these topics and meet the needs of those impacted while opening doors to share the love of Christ.
In preschool missions discipleship, the Project HELP emphasis is often geared more toward helping preschool leaders meet the needs of preschoolers and their families who are experiencing the issues. And also helps leaders know how to talk with preschoolers about the topics in appropriate ways.
Below is information about addressing the current Project HELP emphasis in preschool missions discipleship.
Project HELP: Mental Health for Preschool
Through Project HELP: Mental Health, WMU seeks to raise awareness of this critical issue and encourage churches and individuals to respond to and support those who are experiencing mental health challenges.
For the preschool age level, the efforts of WMU focus on helping preschool leaders understand more about mental health issues, particularly as they relate to preschoolers and their families. Preschool leaders in the church are in a unique position to be an influence in supporting the growth of preschoolers’ mental health.
What Can We Do?
As we teach preschoolers at church, we can foster positive mental health in our little ones. We can explore the influences on preschoolers’ mental health and help them grow socially and emotionally.
WMU offers blogs on ways we can promote positive mental health and wellness in preschoolers. Links to the blogs are listed below.
We also encourage you to visit wmu.com/mentalhealth to learn more about Project HELP: Mental Health and see the available resources.
Blogs in this Series
Ways to Support Preschoolers Dealing with a Death in the Family
Death is never an easy subject to broach, even with adults, let alone preschoolers. Grief and loss are multifaceted processes that each person approaches differently. There are several key things to remember when discussing these topics with preschoolers.
Preschoolers, Families, and Serious Illness
Over half of adults in the US live with at least one chronic health condition. Given the prevalence of chronic and serious illness, it is likely you will have at least one preschooler in your class wh
Ways to Help Preschoolers Dealing with the Divorce of Parents
In the US, 40–50% of marriages end in divorce. It’s likely you will have one or more preschoolers in Mission Friends who are living with parents who are divorced or will soon be divorced. Divorce ofte
Supporting Preschoolers Whose Families Are Dealing with Stressful Situations
When we discuss mental health and preschoolers, we consider ways to help them grow in mentally healthy ways and learn to deal with difficult issues in age-appropriate ways. What can a preschool leader
Modeling Healthy Relationships for Preschoolers
Preschool leaders can help preschoolers learn to navigate the world of relationships as they model how healthy relationships work. Here are some ways to help preschoolers build stronger relationships
Supporting Preschoolers’ Social and Emotional Health
How preschoolers learn to relate, communicate, and function with others determines who they are becoming and how they see and understand the world. Their social and emotional development is what drive
Actions that Influence Positive Mental Health in Preschoolers
Mental health in preschoolers is a hot topic. Given post–COVID-19 dynamics, we are more aware that solid mental well-being at all ages is vital. Years of scientific research have taught us that not on
4 Tips to Foster Positive Mental Health in Preschool Environments
Fostering positive mental health in preschoolers involves many factors. We know that strong mental health is based on safety: physical safety, mental safety, and emotional safety. Developing and maint
Factors that Impact Preschoolers’ Mental Health
Preschoolers grow in all areas: physically, cognitively, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. Each of these areas has an impact on the mental health and well-being of preschoolers. Let’s look at fa
Mental Health Impact on Families: How to Help
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one out of every five adults in the US experience a mental illness each year.¹ As we think of the millions of people that statistic represents, co
Mentally Healthy in the Preschool Years
We tend to think of the first few years of a child’s life as a happy time with no worries. We may think of childhood as being free from the cares of this world. Yet, in reality, this often isn’t the case.
The Mental Health of Preschoolers and Families
Healthy bodies and healthy minds. That is what we want for our preschoolers as they grow. We make sure preschoolers eat healthy foods, place limits on unhealthy foods, and ensure they get the sleep ne
Disclaimer: The information shared on wmu.com is not meant to diagnose or treat a mental health condition. We encourage you to follow up with your health-care provider and seek a mental health professional for individual consultation and care.