Self-care is essential for mental, emotional, and physical health —for adults and kids alike! Children also experience stress, and they may lack the skills, understanding, or knowledge they need to cope.
Children experience a wide range of intense emotions, and these self-care practices can help them learn to manage the pressures of daily life, find positive ways to express their feelings, and help their nervous systems find balance through even the most challenging circumstances.
Early practice and adoption of self-care routines can inevitably reduce the risk of children developing the symptoms of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. The earlier kids learn and practice self-care, the more likely they are to maintain those healthy habits as they grow into adults.
Begin with the basics
To get started, try adopting healthy routines in the house. Self-care behaviors such as regular showering, eating well, indulging in relaxation, and playing sports are great ways to get kids started on a lifetime of healthy living. In the same way people care for their physical health, we must also tend to our mental and emotional well-being, since the two are tied so tightly together.
Nourish the mind and body
Reduce time spent in front of the TV, playing video games, or staring at a screen, and encourage increased time spent engaged in other cognitively stimulating activities that take care of the mind and emotions.
Mindfulness and introspection can be fostered in addition to physical fitness and health through pursuits like yoga, meditation, walking, and playing sports outdoors. Create some questions you and your children can ponder on walks and then discuss afterward. You can also go on a ride on a bike, skate, or skateboard. Use a wide range of entertaining pursuits to teach your kids the value of maintaining a healthy balance of fun and healthy activities against often stressful responsibilities.
Discuss your feelings
It's important to help your kids learn to express their feelings when they're sad, angry, disappointed, frustrated, or afraid. Encourage discussion of how they're feeling, what's causing their emotions, and what they think might help them feel better. Help them to understand that all of these emotions are normal, and can be used as guideposts for their actions in a constructive way. Instead of dismissing or ignoring their emotions, they should learn how to recognize, accept, and act on them.
Set aside some time in the afternoon or evening to initiate your wind-down routine and ease the transition from your day at work or school to your evening at home. Snack time after school or work can be a dedicated bonding time to reflect on the day and share stories and insights with your kids. It’s also the perfect chance to ask them about how they’re feeling.
Take the lead in self-care
Make it a priority at home to take care of yourself. Daily self-care, such as a brisk walk in nature or an hour of quiet reflection sends a positive message to your children about the importance of taking care of yourself.
It will also embed self-care into their daily lives, giving them a foundation upon which to rely when intense emotions arise. If you want your children to see the value in incorporating self-care into their weekly routines, be sure to explain to them what you're doing as you engage in self-care activities. This has the additional benefit of teaching them how to set healthy boundaries, because you’re setting a great example for them to follow as they grow up.
Eat a healthy diet
Proper nutrition promotes a child's healthy growth and development into adulthood, and may even play a role in teaching them to control their emotions.
A child's ability to form a positive, lifelong relationship with food is greatly facilitated by the early introduction of healthy, nutritional options into their diet. Furthermore, it may be less complicated and time-consuming than you anticipate. If you plan nutrient-dense, whole food meals for your whole family, you’re setting an example for their lifelong patterns, and teaching them how to make these foods from scratch ensures that they are better able to support themselves in the future.
Add CBD to support wellness
If you want your kids to avoid unhealthy snacks like soda, chips, and cookies, stock up on fresh fruit, veggies, and healthy drinks (water, milk, or herbal tea). Supplements like CBD gummies are great for children with anxiety, sleep issues, or hyperactivity because they are the safest and most effective way to give kids access to CBD's therapeutic advantages. CBD gummies are considered safe for children by the World Health Organization if used appropriately and under medical supervision.
Kids need to learn how to take care of themselves. Self-care isn't a luxury; it's a necessity. Your child can learn the value of self-care and the importance of caring for others if you model these practices and techniques for them and include them in your daily life. Giving children the tools for taking care of their emotional, mental, and physical well-being encourages them to take responsibility for their own well-being, and ensures that they continue to see you as a positive role-model in their lives.
