Self-care is a personal journey that can start as early as childhood. You can teach your children to value self-care by making it a normal part of your lives as a family. Consider these simple tips to help you implement self-care into your lives.
This guest post was provided by Charlene Roth of Safetykid.info.
- Be an Example of Self-Care
Being a parent can be stressful, and that stress can even affect how your child learns to manage self-care. You can help them develop self-care tactics by practicing them yourself. Start by finding ways to avoid burnout. For example, you can limit distractions and delegate tasks to ensure you have the time and help you need to get everything done and spend time with your family at the end of the work day. If you’re a business owner, start your day early and prioritize the largest tasks for the day first. Don’t be afraid to take some time off when your schedule becomes overwhelming.
- Teach Them Breathing Techniques
Practicing breathing techniques is a great way to reduce stress and calm down in a highly emotional setting. For example, when a toddler has a meltdown over the color of the cup you gave them, take a moment to collect yourself and then teach them to breathe through the panic. Slow, steady breathing with intention gets oxygen to your brain and helps you calm down. It’s a great way to manage stress quickly.
- Prioritize Fitness
Modeling a healthy lifestyle for your kids is essential for instilling good habits. Show them how enjoyable physical activity can be. Incorporate activities that you both enjoy, such as playing sports in the park or biking to the beach. If you live in a neighborhood with sidewalks, set aside time each day to take a walk with your family—this will benefit not only your physical health, but also your mental wellbeing.
- Encourage Their Hobbies
When your kids show interest in something, a great way to boost their mental health is to show your support for their hobbies. You can offer financial support, such as purchasing a library card when they love to read, or just encourage them by asking about something new they learned. Just your own interest gives them confidence and boosts their mental health.
- Talk About Emotions
Talking about emotions can be an uncomfortable thing for people of all ages, but it is a necessary part of mental growth. When a child feels anger or frustration, they sometimes do not know what to do with those emotions. You can walk them through it. First, acknowledge the feeling and then validate it. You can explain that you understand why they are upset and help them find a solution to the problem. This is how they learn to regulate those feelings, and they will carry that into adulthood.
- Keep a Clean Home
Teaching kids about keeping a clean and decluttered home is an important part of fostering responsibility and organization. Start by helping them establish good habits, like putting away their toys after use and organizing their clothes neatly in their closets. Remind them to clean up after themselves when they make messes. Also, encourage them to donate or recycle items they no longer need, as this will help keep their bedroom clutter-free.
- Practice Gratitude
Practice learning to be grateful for everything in your life. This is especially important when things aren’t going as well as you would like. Research shows that a daily gratitude practice makes you less materialistic, happier about life, and less likely to experience the feeling of burnout. You can set aside time every day for the family to sit down and talk about the things that make them feel grateful. Buy a journal to keep track of the gratitude they express and have everyone reflect on it during more difficult times. As it becomes part of your normal routine, your kids will naturally resort to positive thoughts rather than negative ones.
Now that your children have these new ways to manage stress, you can monitor what works and what doesn’t work. Over time, you can implement new ways to accommodate their rapidly changing lives. Remember to keep an open line of communication, so they feel comfortable talking about struggles and finding solutions.