Teaching Children To Engage in Self-Care Practices Throughout the Day

From the earliest stages, parents want to give their children every opportunity to thrive. Bedtime stories set the foundation for literacy development. Counting songs and shape-sorting toys introduce beginning math concepts. The same can be done with teaching kids about self-care.

Instilling habits that prioritize physical and mental health from a young age helps children to gain confidence, build resilience and develop an awareness of personal needs. Learn about the importance of self-care and how you can support activities that nourish the mind, body, and soul.

The Importance of Self-Care for Children

Being a kid can be challenging and stressful. Self-care enables children to effectively manage stressors and maintain good health.

Self-care comes in many forms, from basic skills like brushing teeth to mindfulness practices like meditation. By engaging in a range of self-care activities, children learn to:

Identify and address physical and emotional needs
Become more independent and self-sufficient
Prioritize well-being
Develop skills that support a healthy transition into adulthood
Cultivate positive habits that last a lifetime

Creating an Environment that Fosters Self-Care

Any parent who’s ever tried to sneak a piece of candy knows that kids are keen observers. Use this to your advantage by modeling acts of self-care. Let your family see you meditating or writing in a gratitude journal. Invite your children to join you during a workout.

Your presence and a strong connection with your children greatly influence their self-care. Create a plan that allows you to spend quality time with your family, particularly during busy periods. For example, commit to eating dinner together several times a week. Studies link regular sit-down meals with long-term physical and mental health benefits for children.

Routines To Make Mornings More Relaxed

A typical morning in a household with kids may involve repeated requests to get ready, mismatched clothing, barely-eaten breakfasts, forgotten permission slips, and races to the car. Avoid starting the day on a stressful note by tweaking your routine to be more self-care-friendly. Empower your kids to pick out clothes and help make lunches the night before. Play a favorite tune and challenge your crew to finish getting dressed before the song ends.

Mid-Day Brain Breaks

Children need multiple opportunities throughout the day to recharge their minds and release energy. Here are five self-care ideas to help kids reboot:

1. Practice Yoga

Keep it simple and light. Use animal poses with younger yogis for added fun.

2. Get Active

Go for a hike, ride bikes, or head to a playground. Let your kids experience the positive effects of maintaining an active lifestyle.

3. Try Something New Together

Play a new game or travel to a new destination. Sharing novel experiences cements family bonds.

4. Go Outside

Spending time outdoors is naturally therapeutic. Teach your kids to dress for the weather so they can enjoy nature all year long.

5. Do Nothing

You may initially hear protests of boredom, but eventually, your kids will use downtime to invent a new game, curl up with a book or complete a puzzle.

6. Play

Play time on their own is essential, so keeping their toy setup fresh can go a long way. Many parents rely on the art of putting away half their children’s toys, then swapping them out with the current lineup to keep toys interesting. Of course, you can always splurge on a toy or two every quarter, but be sure to check online ratings and reviews for safety and durability.

Calming Activities for Bedtime

Establish a routine that prepares your children for restful sleep:

Unplug from devices at least one hour before bedtime
Enjoy a quiet activity, such as reading
Reflect on happy moments from the day
Play peaceful music

Self-care is as important to childhood as ABCs and 1-2-3s. Raise happy, capable kids who flourish into happy, capable adults by teaching them to regularly practice self-care.

About the author: Anya Willis is a mother of three and has been a yoga instructor for the past 12 years. For most of her childhood Anya struggled with her weight. She took up yoga in college and things started to change. She fell in love with how yoga used her whole body and mind. Reflecting on her younger years, Anya became passionate about kids being active and healthy.

When Anya had her own kids she was thrilled about keeping them active, but found that yoga wasn’t for everyone. After doing some research and thinking about the differences in her kids, Anya discovered some really fun fitness alternatives. anyawillis@fitkids.info