Self Care for Kids & Why It's Important

Kids who practice self care have fewer meltdowns, more giggles and are more likely to grow up to be emotionally intelligent adults. Self-care practices can be taught and modeled to young children. Nora Painten, Director of the Abigail Lundquist Botstein Nursery School at Bard College in New York's Hudson Valley, speaks with host Patty O'Connor about ways to teach self-care at home.

Little Feet Community is an online resource for parents, caregivers, and educators seeking to support healthy growth in young children.

Takeaways:

• It is vital to intentionally care for your physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
• Self-care is essential for adults and children. Parents should model healthy self-care to kids and understand that it's okay to set boundaries with your kids.
• Self-care is a learned skill. You learn to read your body's responses and your body's needs. Consider using a feelings chart to help kids learn to identify emotions. You can learn what practices are best for relaxing, replenishing your body, and strengthening yourself.
• Daily relaxed dialogue around self-care in the home is recommended. Using "I" messages and "I wonder" phrases such as, "I see you're drinking a healthy drink of water. Water is so good for our bodies."
• Building routines into the day will help children understand their physical needs, i.e., if trying to go to the bathroom before a nap is routine, they will learn to go to the toilet by themselves before napping.
• What works is unique to each child,
• The seven senses are an excellent place to start when looking for activities that will feel nourishing for your child.
• While many think of five senses, sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste - two less-considered senses are related to muscle application and balance. These, too, are critical.

Suggested Tools

Sight

• Find It tube
• Nature walks
• Magnifying glass with a basket of natural objects
• Puzzles
• Painting
• Lava bottles

Sound

• Music
• Rainstick
• Listening to a story
• White noise

Smell

Empty bottles of vanilla extract are a low-cost way to share soothing aromas.

You can also put essential oils in a diffuser. Lavender is very calming.

The smells of baking are as soothing as the smell of homemade play dough.

Aromatic natural objects like pine needles and cones.

Touch

• Soft dry brush
• Massage rollers
• Nature objects
• Fuzzy blankets and toys
• Finger painting
• Fidget Toys

Taste

• Lollipops
• Textural foods or smooth foods
• Seasonings

Proprioceptive (muscle pressure/ regulation)

• Peeling oranges
• cracking open nut cases
• cutting cucumbers using child safe knives.
• Heavy work like carrying groceries
• Stretch bands
• Pillow fights
• Stilt shoes (also great for balance)

Vestibular (balance sense)

• Playground equipment
• Yoga balls
• Tire swings
• Balance board
• Wobble cushion
• Obstacle courses: Stepping stones, more Stepping stones, Balance beam