Strategies for Teaching Your Children to Embrace Self-Care
In our modern age of social media, screen time, and nonstop work, many people forget to slow down and look inward. However, experts believe that when life feels like it's flying by, you need to respond to your needs and nurture your physical and mental health. When you do this, you are better prepared to tackle anything life throws at you.
As crucial as self-care is for adults, it's equally important for kids. If you want to teach your children this vital life skill but aren't sure how to begin, here are some strategies to get you started.
Encourage Outdoor Play
Most children love being outside, and it's easy to understand why. In addition to being able to enjoy all that the great outdoors has to offer, interacting with nature boosts physical wellbeing, reduces stress and depression, strengthens mental acuity, and encourages socialization.
Being outside is also the perfect invitation for outdoor play. Help your children find activities that stimulate their creativity:
- Provide them with the supplies they need for creating giant bubbles — shop South Beach Bubbles today!
- Encourage them to use chalk to create artwork or play sidewalk games
- Unleash your kids' creative genius by letting them use their favorite art supplies outside
Additionally, nature provides children with the space they need to walk, run, jump, and skip. Research shows that when kids play outside, their activity levels double.
Practice Gratitude
Schedule a regular time each day to take turns saying what each of you is grateful for. This practice, which only takes a few minutes, has been shown to produce joy, and kids who get into the habit early are more likely to carry the practice forward.
Take Time To Relax
When your children's lives are brimming with activities and responsibilities, they need a chance to unwind and relax. One way to help them find their inner calm is to teach them how to meditate. With the use of this ancient practice, your kids can learn how to focus on their breath, direct their thoughts, and feel more peaceful and centered in the midst of chaos. It also provides additional benefits, such as reduced stress, improved mood regulation, better sleep, increased focus, and less anxiety.
If you aren't comfortable leading a guided meditation on your own, online resources can help. Mindfulness websites can supply valuable information, instructions, and samples to get you started, and meditation apps can provide guided sessions that you and your kids can enjoy together.
Set a Good Example
Because children learn by example, your behavior and attitude can have an impact on the development of your offspring. Therefore, if you want your kids to prioritize their health and wellbeing, you must do the same.
On the flip side, if you are experiencing stress, those unhealthy feelings can transfer to your child. To guard against these negative feelings, practice self-care and be strategic about work responsibilities.
For example, if you are an entrepreneur, the challenges of running a business may feel overwhelming. Zenbusiness recommends acting proactively to avoid excess stress:
- Try to get a head start in the morning before your kids wake up
- Set up a private office to limit distractions
- Use your children's naptime for focused tasks
- Delegate work to freelancers whenever possible
- Automate administrative tasks with software and apps
One of the greatest gifts you can give your children is the ability to care for themselves. By teaching and modeling self-care, your kids can learn to assess and meet their own needs, and in turn, be better prepared for the pressures of life.
