Teaching kids self care is so crucial, especially in today’s world. We often focus on helping and caring for others, while we forget about ourselves. That’s where it becomes really essential to teach kids self-care.
Self-care has become a required phrase in everyday conversation and for good reason. Our lives are becoming busier than ever and complicated because of screens and social media and turned down by a lot of work responsibilities. Because of that, self-care has become more and more prominent. But what about our kids? As we think about the consequences of screen time on our adult lives, it’s necessary to consider the effects of screen time on children too. Additionally, as we become busier, there’s a natural impact that those cluttered schedules have on our kids. That’s why it’s so important to teach your children about self-care and how they can create healthy habits that will help them throughout their adulthood.
“Self-care” is such a popular word it almost feels like a trend, but setting aside time to care for your body and mind has always been a key ingredient for a healthy, happy life. Conventional self-care habits are just as important for kids as they are for adults, and it’s up to parents to teach their children how to prioritize their mental and physical health first.
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What’s the need to explain self-care to kids?
Teaching your child a thing or two about independence and self-sufficiency can help you in the long run. Even though they may be tiny humans in your eyes right now, they will eventually evolve into full-grown adults. As a parent, teaching them basic self-care skills can empower them to develop some significant skills they need in their later life.
Although it’s a long and challenging journey for us as parents, teaching the importance of self-care skills to the kids. This will not only contribute to their long-term growth but can also boost their self-esteem and independence. Remember one thing, you can only teach to the best of your ability so don’t stress it over, and hopefully, along the way, they become the strongest and healthiest individuals they were meant to be.
- Get healthy together
Kids nearly eat every minute, so what’s an easier way to integrate good self-care into their day than by serving them healthy foods. What kids eat has a profound impact on their mood, concentration, and brain development. One simple strategy to get children excited about healthy foods is to let them pick a rainbow of fruits and vegetables at the store to eat that whole week. Cooking what they select and endeavoring to eat a rainbow of fresh foods daily can contribute immensely to both their physical and mental well being. For busy families, keeping a healthy regime “on the go” food snack can include a couple of apples, nuts, or raisins in the car is a good strategy for the starters. Sitting down to have meals together as a family as much as possible will also boost your child’s self-esteem and improve their mood. You have to make them understand how crucial our health is and thus it is our foremost responsibility to take good care of our health.
2. Enjoy the great outdoors
Getting outside with your kids not only provides a good dose of vitamin D and fresh air, but it also shows them how, when you might be stressed and in need of some urgent self-care, a change of environment can be so soothing and calming and therefore help you find a sense of balance in life. You can go to the park, take a day hike, or complete homework together sitting in the balcony. Take a short break and lay in the grass and look up at the clouds and ask your kids what they see. Experiences like these are excellent ways for parents and kids to connect, and studies even suggest that taking your kids on vacation provides
families with meaningful experiences that’ll help to create long-term happiness and connection. Moreover, children learn that self-care is important and not selfish.
3. Allow For Downtime
Don’t teach your child that having a not-so-good time is bad. Sometimes the best self-care practice is just doing nothing. Especially in the fast-paced lives, we live as adults, although sometimes all we need is a break from it to do absolutely nothing. Allow for your kiddos to have some hard time, in order to support them you can cuddle with them on the couch for some time, reading to them, or sitting outside and listening to the chirping of birds. Teaching your child that it is okay to take some time out and that it can help them slow down their busy lives.
4. Talk About Emotions
A tremendous part of self-care revolves around mental health and emotions. Talking to your toddler about emotions will be a lot different than talking to a teenager, it is a great way to help them develop the right skills to identify and manage their own emotions. When your child has a tantrum or is feeling down, help them talk about their emotions, and figure out ways to manage them. Sometimes it’s not easy for them to talk about it, ask them to start journaling. It will channel their emotions in a good way. They’ll feel more alive and light. There are many adults who do not know how to manage their emotions and may not even know how to properly identify them, which can conduct many problems of their own. By helping your little one better understand their emotions, they can learn how to handle them, even when they’ll be an adult. This is a great method to practice self-care and get in touch with their emotions.
At last, always remember that your idea of self-care may differ from your kid’s idea. Parents should watch out for how their children are responding to self-care activities. It could be possible that they won’t be getting any
benefit from these activities. Exhibit your kids to a variety of strategies so that they can find out what suits their needs the best.
While teaching your child self-care practices, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Model a good example in front of your child. In this way, they’ll learn faster and thus do follow your style of living.