You know that you need self-care – but did you know self-care is also critical for the well-being of your children? In fact, it can be even more important, what with so many kids feeling stressed out by changes in their routine and in the world around them. So how can you help your kids get more self-care? Today, Playground Professionals has some great resources and suggestions to help.
Practicing Yoga
Of course, yoga tops this list! Yoga can help kids:
- Nurture positive self-image and self-esteem.
- Reduce stress and anxiety.
- Enhance their social interactions.
Basically, your kids can get the same benefits from yoga that you do. To get started with a practice at home, you’ll need to clean and declutter a little bit of space. Actually, removing clutter and tidying up can also help promote positive energy, which can enhance your yoga benefits. Work room by room and pay close attention to paper buildup. After tossing all unneeded documents, start using a paper maintenance system so you only keep essential documents.
Being More Mindful
One of the ways in which yoga helps little ones is that it teaches them to be more mindful, of both themselves and others. Mindfulness has incredible powers for both adults and children, and getting your children started at an early age can help them lead a more fulfilling life and cope with feelings of stress and anxiety.
Meditation is such a powerful tool to help teach your kids to be more mindful. If you are not sure where to start with kid-friendly meditation, know that there are several guided practices online.
Playing
Adults tend to see play as an extracurricular. But play is an essential right of childhood. In fact, the United Nations included “play” in its list of rights that all children of the world should be entitled to in their everyday lives.
Play helps children decompress and unwind, but it also is critical to their overall development and health. You can use these tips to provide safe opportunities for your little ones to pay. You can even join them to blow off some steam!
Being Creative
Having the chance to be creative allows children to have a sense of purpose. They can also work through anxiety and worry.
You can encourage your kids to take up this self-care habit by dedicating some space in your home where they can be messy. Fill the space with non-toxic art supplies and then let your kids use their imagination freely when drawing, painting, or expressing themselves in other ways.
Spending Time Outside
When the weather permits, you should also encourage your kids to play outside. Outdoor time is just as essential for their emotional and physical well-being as any of the other self-care practices on this list, even if they only play outside in their own backyard.
In order to get your kids off the couch, you may need to plan some fun outdoor family activities. Try taking those art supplies outside or visit a local park.
Getting Good Sleep
Last but most certainly not least, your kids may need more sleep to thrive right now. Teenagers tend to do better when they’ve had at least 10 hours. Younger children need even more. Practicing more self-care can help, but you may also need to limit evening screentime and improve their bedroom.
As a hardworking adult, you know that you need self-care from time to time. But don’t forget that your kids need it, too. Find ways to practice self-care as a family, but also set aside some time for your kids to relieve stress on their own — because we all need a little more rest and relaxation.