My kids and I recently found the above throwback photo of Kaima, my middle daughter, which she took during a spa pamper birthday party. This sparked a discussion about practical self-care routines and how often they should be practised.
I told them that whilst going to the spa for a pampering session is refreshing. Self-care entails far more than pampering sessions and includes taking care of your mental health as well as your overall well-being.
Parents should develop the habit of practising and discussing self-care at home. This is because children who understand and practise self-care are better prepared to deal with future stressors.
If you’re wondering what kind of practical self-care routines you should be practising with your child, keep reading!
What Is Self-Care?
Self-care can include anything that makes you feel better, both physically and mentally.
It is also about recognising your needs and meeting them in a healthy way. This entails allowing yourself enough time to rest and recover from work/school and other life stresses.
Self-care for children can be as simple as taking a bath or going for a walk outside.
Why is A Self-Care Routine Important For Your Child?
To take care of ourselves, we must make every effort to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The same is true for children. They should develop a self-care routine to help them stay healthy as they grow. And it’s not just about ensuring they brush their teeth and wash their hands every day. It’s also about ensuring they get enough sleep, eat a nutritious diet, and participate in enjoyable activities.
In this blog post, I will be sharing practical self-care routines that will help your child become more intentional about practicing self-care.
Physical Self-Care Routines
- Exercising
- Getting enough Sleep
- Staying Rehydrated
- Eating healthy foods
Emotional Self-Care Routines
Emotional self-care is extremely important for children. It is an important part of maintaining mental health because if you do not take care of yourself, you will not be at your best.
Parents must teach their children how to take care of themselves emotionally. When your child is feeling emotional, you can start a self-care routine by asking them what they need, how they want it, and what else would make them feel better. This can include anything from listening to music to simply taking a bath.
Another technique that can help your child is to write down what they are grateful for every day. This will assist your child in remembering the positive aspects of their lives as well as what they value about themselves and the world around them.
Emotional self-care includes:
- Journaling
- Practicing gratitude
- Showing compassion
- Forgiveness
Social Self-Care Routines
Social self-care is a type of self-care that focuses on the social aspects of your child’s life. This can take the form of quality family time or healthy social relationships.
Social self-care can be extremely beneficial to children for a variety of reasons. Children who have been exposed to trauma often struggle with self-regulation skills. Social self-care skills can be a useful tool to help them gain more control over their emotions and reactions.
It can also help your child feel more connected to you by giving them your undivided attention during this time.
Social self-care includes:
- Spending quality time with family
- Appropriate social media use
- Maintaining healthy friendships
- Setting boundaries
Mental Self-Care Routines
Mental self-care is something that children must learn because it is vital that they know how to care for themselves. Mental self-care is as important for children as physical self-care.
Mental self-care can be a powerful tool in a parent’s toolbox for assisting their children during difficult times. Here are a few practical mental self-care tips for kids:
- Listening to music
- Reading a book
- Playing a musical instrument
- Doing something they enjoy
- Exercising some form of creative expression, such as drawing, writing, or dancing
Spiritual Self-Care Routines
Spiritual self-care is a type of care that entails seeking spiritual fulfillment in all aspects of one’s life. Such as through meditation, prayer, or connecting with one’s spirituality. This type of self-care focuses on both the human spirit and the human soul.
Other practical spiritual self-care tips for children include:
- Praying
- Repeating positive affirmations
- Meditating
- Reading the bible and spending time with God
- Digital/screen detox
Conclusion
Children have the right to know that self-care is important. It is the responsibility of parents to instill in their children healthy habits that will last a lifetime.
Use these practical self-care tips to teach your child that good self-care allows them to accomplish more.
Self-care is so important your overall wellness and something I teach in my clinic. Wonderful article on helping your children learn this healthy habit early!!! 👏🏼👏🏼
Hi Emma,
Glad you found it helpful. Thanks for stopping by.