Often, it seems that life is rushing by so fast that it’s difficult to catch up. That goes double for children born in this digital age, who must also keep up with the times. All this can impact their lives if left unchecked – which is why they need you to teach them the principles of self-care. Today, Bliss Planet has some tips to get you started.
Healthy Habits are Key
Teaching your child to take care of their personal hygiene is something that they ought to learn how to do from a young age, as this will make them more confident in themselves and in their ability to take care of themselves even when you’re not around to help them do so. The same applies when it comes to taking pride in their homes. For example, you could teach your kids the importance of having a clean and tidy home to counteract a negative atmosphere, thus promoting a healthy and healing atmosphere in which your child can thrive.
That applies to the outdoors, as well. For instance, your yard could be a great place to play, do yoga, garden, or perform some science experiments – but only if it’s healthy. If your lawn could use some attention, aeration is a way to restore vital nutrients. Simply search online for “aerator near me” and browse ratings and reviews to make sure you’re getting the best deal in your area. This is a good way to teach children that taking care of yourself also means taking care of your surroundings.
Encourage Honest Talk
Teaching your kids to talk about what may be bothering them is important, too. For one, it’ll only strengthen the relationship you have with them, knowing they have you to lean on for support. Secondly, it will allow them to open up to you regarding their feelings instead of bottling them up or repressing them, which can have disastrous effects down the line.
Exercise is a Must
Exercise is crucial regardless of what age you are. But it is even more so for young children who are still developing physically and mentally. Therefore, try to encourage them to participate in at least 60 minutes of exercise per day; this should also help them sleep better.
Teach Them Gratitude
Learning how to practice gratitude is another critical life skill, especially if you want them to be able to handle life’s hard knocks graciously.
Introduce the Therapeutic Benefits of the Arts
Encouraging your child to participate in the arts could be just the thing to help heal your child mentally and emotionally, especially if your kid is not the type to open up very easily. Moreover, participating in the arts has numerous benefits; suffice it to say, it could be the therapeutic outlet your child needs if all else fails.
Be the Example They Look Up To
If you want your kids to be their best, you’ll have to show them how. This may require making some changes to your own lifestyle to make time for your kids so that you can teach them these valuable life lessons. Of course, you can’t do this if you’re feeling stressed. So you might want to consider changing your routine up a bit to prevent it from being predictably boring.
Furthermore, you should eat healthy snacks to improve your mood, as well as overcome perfectionism if this is making you grumpy and not happy. Last but not least, you need to model preventative care, as well. That means addressing problems before they start. For instance, before buying a product that might not be a good fit for the home, or could even be dangerous for the wrong age or if a family member has certain allergies, don’t forget to check product safety reviews. You could even involve your children in the process to show them the benefits of gathering the correct data before making a decision.
Certainly, self-care is just as critical for kids as it is for adults. But the reality is that it’s not as complicated as it sounds if you are willing to put the hard work together to make growing up simpler, fun, and as enjoyable as it was always meant to be.
Bliss Planet is a public charity dedicated to helping people feel their best while teaching the world how to thrive in harmony with people, animals, and this wonder-filled planet. We’d love to hear from you!
Author: Virginia Cooper
Virginia Cooper is a retired community college instructor. She always encouraged her students to see the real-world value in their education, and now, she wants to spread that message as wide as possible. Her hope is that Learn a Living will be a go-to resource for adult learners embarking on starting, continuing, or finishing their education.
