Teach Kids Self Care Now for a Balanced Tomorrow
Kids’ self care is just as important as adults. With busy schedules and the stresses of everyday life, children need to take time away from school and scheduled activities and practice self-care. But what exactly does that look like for kids?
Kids Self Care Practices
As a parent, you’re probably well aware of the importance of self-care for yourself. But have you ever stopped to think about how your kids might benefit from some self-care practices of their own?
The truth is, kids also have a lot going on in their young lives. Kids these days have almost as much going on as you do, from afterschool activities to homework, from friend time to family time. Sometimes kids need a little downtime, too. They can benefit greatly from taking a little time to focus on just being, away from all their schedule activities and school demands. In this post, we’ll explore some simple and fun ways that you can teach kids self care.
Screen-Free Activities
One of the most obvious ways to encourage kids self care is by reducing their screen time. We all know that too much screen time can harm our physical and mental health. By encouraging your kids to put down their screens and engage in other activities, you’re helping them to de-stress and focus on something positive.
Having tech free days can facilitate this and make it more of a family affair. It also helps them to just relax and be, giving their minds the freedom to wander and imagine. It also gives them a chance to benefit from boredom. Boredom enhances creativity and problem-solving while recharging the brain.
So, having some screen-free days to encourage self care is a good thing. Some great screen-free activities for kids include writing in a journal, coloring, doing crafts, and exercising outside. You could even have “do nothing” days as a way to teach your children the importance of taking mental health breaks. These activities not only promote kids self care, but they also provide opportunities for bonding with your children and making memories together.
Ensuring Good Sleep
Another key aspect of kids self care is ensuring they get adequate sleep. Sleep is essential for our overall health and well-being; kids are no exception. If your child is having trouble sleeping, there are a few things you can do to help.
Improving the lighting and temperature in their bedroom, using a white noise machine, and even changing their bedtime routine can help promote better sleep for your child. By ensuring that your child is getting the rest they need with proper sleep hygiene, you’re helping them to practice self-care in a very important way.
Help them embrace sleep time by making the separation easier and making it more appealing. Sometimes it helps to have a special CD they listen to or a doll or stuffed toy that only comes out at bedtime. Sometimes, it helps to diffuse lavender essential oil in the room. Try a few different things and once you’ve landed on something, stick to it. Routine is key.
Kids Self Care Through Proper Health and Nutrition
Proper health and nutrition are also important forms of kids self care. Just like adults, children need to eat a well-balanced diet and engage in regular physical activity to stay healthy.
As a parent, you can teach your kids self care by ensuring they are getting the nutrients they need but also allowing them to enjoy their food. For example, offer your child healthy fruits and veggies they enjoy, but try cutting them in fun shapes or including a yogurt or nut butter dip. You could also try offering vegetable chips, such as beet, kale, or sweet potato chips or offering apple or banana chips.
Encourage Movement
Another aspect of kids self care is movement. I’m not talking about being on a sports team, I’m talking about getting active, period. That means plenty of playground climbing, running, and jumping. Most kids love to run around anyway, but taking care of their bodies means moving their bodies! Help them to know that it’s okay if they don’t like sports. They can still skate, cycle, skip rope, climb, parkour, run, and walk. Get out there with them!
Journaling for Self-Care
Journaling is a beautiful kids self care activity that allows them to self reflect and learn to regulate their emotions. Not only does it help them to express their thoughts and feelings, but it also helps them to learn how to write.
You can find fun prompts for kids to write about or simply let them write about whatever they want.
Encourage your child to write for a certain amount of time each day, or to fill up a certain number of pages in their journal. Journaling for kids has numerous benefits, including improved mental health and self-awareness.
Conclusion
Kids self care can take many forms, but the most important thing is to make it fun and accessible. By encouraging your child to engage in activities that promote self-care, you’re helping them to grow and thrive in a healthy way. Whether it’s reducing screen time, ensuring good sleep, promoting proper health and nutrition, or encouraging journaling, there are many ways that you can help your child to practice self-care. So, take some time to explore what works best for your child, and have fun together along the way!
