This Is My Place: Helping Deaf Children Feel They Belong
- Deaf Umbrella
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
Children’s Mental Health Week runs from 9–15 February, and this year’s theme is a beautiful one:
“This is My Place.”
At Deaf Umbrella, we couldn’t love this theme more.
Because for Deaf children, feeling like they belong is not always easy.
Not at school.
Not in playgrounds.
Not in hearing spaces that were never designed with them in mind.
And yet… belonging is everything.
Belonging is feeling safe, being understood, and knowing “I don’t need to change who I am to fit in.”
Children’s Mental Health Week is led by Place2Be, and they describe belonging as:
“The feeling of being a valued part of the groups and places that are important to us. It means feeling cared for and comfortable to be ourselves.”
For Deaf children, that might look like:
Being able to communicate freely, without struggling or guessing
Having their language respected
Feeling proud of who they are
Belonging sometimes it’s a person. A group. A language. A feeling.
A lovely activity to try with your child
Place2Be has shared a free, creative activity to help children explore what belonging means to them.
Children are invited to create a personal “belonging map”.
This can include:
Places they feel safe
People they feel understood by
Clubs, groups, or activities they love
Languages they use
Even feelings or memories that give them comfort
There’s no right or wrong way to do it.
You can find the full activity and resources here: https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/
And if your child likes videos, there’s a guided activity too.
Ricky walks children through the idea step by step, in a fun and friendly way:
You could:
Draw together
Sign about it
Use photos or stickers
Turn it into a quiet family conversation
Let your child lead.
They already know where they belong. Sometimes they just need space to show it.
Why this matters so much for Deaf children
Many Deaf children grow up feeling like they are “the only one”.
The only Deaf child in class.
The only one who signs.
The only one who needs things explained differently.
Over time, that can affect confidence, self-worth, and mental health.
But when Deaf children see themselves represented, are surrounded by Deaf role models, and are part of Deaf-friendly spacessomething powerful happens.
They relax, they open up, and they feel proud.
And that pride is protective. It supports mental well-being now and in the future.
One simple but powerful way to support Deaf children’s mental health is through books. Seeing Deaf characters, sign language, and Deaf experiences reflected in stories helps children feel recognised and valued.
We’ve put together a list of brilliant books for Deaf children and families, from early years to older readers. These are stories where Deaf children are not “the problem” — they are the main characters.
Follow spaces where Deaf children can feel seen
During Children’s Mental Health Week, we encourage families to connect with Deaf-led and Deaf-positive spaces online. These accounts share joy, real-life experiences, and strong role models:
Deaf children, young people & role models
Parents, families & early language
Local support and Deaf children’s services
Feel free to contact us to make this list longer!!
And for families navigating education and support, NDCS is an essential resource: https://www.ndcs.org.uk/
You don’t need to follow everyone. Just finding one space where your child feels represented can make a difference.
A gentle reminder for parents and carers
You are doing better than you think.
Supporting a Deaf child in a hearing world takes energy, patience, and advocacy. It’s okay if some days feel hard.
Belonging starts at home. With love. With language. With listening.
This Children’s Mental Health Week, let’s remind Deaf children that:
They are not alone
Their language matters
Their feelings matter
Their place in the world is valid
With love,
Deaf Umbrella 💜
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