Self-care definitely looks a bit different for the littles than it does for teens and adults, but the ultimate purpose is the same. Self-care helps us to regulate and find peace and joy within our lives.
Let’s explore what that could look like for our young children with these fun, inexpensive, and mother-tested products!
Top 5 Self-Care Products for Young Children
Sacow Stress Reliever Ball
This stress ball can definitely help anxious and active children to find a quiet centered place. It is also great for relieving tension, and helping those with especially busy and restless hands stay calm.
Complete Origami Kit
Help your littles tap into their creative side by trying origami together. Engaging in creative activities has long been touted for its calming effect on the body. With more than 100 activities in this kit, your family will be busy for quite a while!
Geode Bath Bombs
Geode bath bombs like this make bath time a soothing and educational experience, as they provide an opportunity to teach your children about rocks and nature. Plus, their scent is soothing and relaxing!
Breathe Like a Bear: 30 Mindful Moments for Kids to Feel Calm and Focused, Anytime, Anywhere
This book has a variety of breathing exercises that can take children from elevated states to calm and focused. Breathing exercises enable children to learn the art of self regulation, which improves confidence and self-esteem as well.
Weighted Fleece Vest
In much the same way that a weighted blanket helps to calm an anxious or hyperactive child, a weighted vest does the same. This particular fleece vest looks like any other vest or jacket a child might wear, so self-care can be a discreet act.
Remember that no weighted product should make up more than five to ten percent of a child’s body weight. So, for example, my daughter weighs forty pounds. An appropriate weight for her would be two to four pounds.
Final Thoughts
Holly Jones (2020), licensed therapist for ChildSavers, articulates the following:
“It is a critical time for children and teenagers to learn the importance of taking care of themselves and their communities. Self-care can help kids of all ages become more introspective and aware of their physical and emotional needs. It can also prepare them to effectively handle future stressors. Even small acts of self-care and self-help can decrease stress, improve relationships, and promote wellness of the body and mind”
Learning self care at an early age enables our children to grow into more resilient adults, capable of handling life’s daily stresses.
Other Helpful Articles
If you enjoyed this article, you may find the following articles to be helpful:
- Self-Care for the Whole Family…How to Create a Plan to Strengthen Our Bodies and Minds
- Books, Toys, and Gadgets…Oh My! Top Gadgets, Books, and Strategies to Battle Anxiety in Young Children
- Top Anxiety Reducing Products for Teens and Young Adults
Sources
Jones, H. (2020). Self Care for Kids by Age: Everything You Need to Know. Retrieved by https://childsavers.org/self-care-for-kids-by-age/
About the Author: Brandy Browne
Brandy Browne is an early childhood educator in the United States, as well as a family coach and blogger for UnStuck (www.unstucks.com), her family coaching service aimed at helping families develop positive habits and breaking the cycle of generational trauma and poverty.
Her education is in early and elementary education, and she also has a masters degree in parenting and child/adolescent development. Brandy is a wife to her high school sweetheart of fifteen years, and together they share three children, aged ten, seven, and five. In her free time, she enjoys reading, gardening, writing, and distance running.
