Self-care can mean different things to different people – but we think the following two definitions say it the best.
Self-care is:
- The practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own physical and mental health.
- The practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own wellbeing and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.
For children and families, this means making physical, mental, and spiritual health a priority for all members of the household.
At the most basic level, self-care is making sure that the family is:
- Getting enough sleep
- Maintaining a balanced diet
- Exercising regularly
Beyond that, self-care is also taking time to:
- Relax and unwind
- Be creative
- Practice gratitude and forgiveness
- Reflect on your life and emotions
For many families, navigating the topic of self-care with their children can be tricky. Parents may know that they themselves need to self-care, but they might not quite know how to encourage their children to self-care too.
To help, we have compiled a list of our top 18 self-care resources for 2022 for children and families. These resources are aimed to help you and your children talk about self-care, try new self-care activities, and build healthy habits.
Let’s get started!
Top 18 Self-Care Resources for Kids and Families
1. Video: Self-Care Just for Kids
Just like adults, kids can practice self-care in their daily life too. But before they can get started, they need to learn what self-care actually is in the first place! This introduction to self-care video from Creative Touch Counselling not only helps to explain what self-care means, but it provides kids with practical examples of healthy self-care habits.
Watch it here: Self-Care Just for Kids by Creative Touch Counseling Center
2. Article: Self-Care Habits for Kids
This is another practical list of healthy self-care habits for kids, with extra resources for each item listed. As a parent, you’re probably already doing several things on the list – but it’s still helpful to have on hand during those moments where you need a bit of inspiration.
Read it here: Self-Care Habits for Kids by PBS
3. Video Series: CBeebies Bedtime Stories
Who doesn’t love a bedtime story to help them relax before bed? Check out the complete and up-to-date library of bedtime stories from CBeebies – with special guests like Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran, and Idina Menzel.
Watch them here: CBeebies Bedtime Stories
4. Article: Healthy Sleep Habits: How Many Hours Does Your Child Need?
Growing children need to sleep, and it’s important that they get the right amount of sleep for their age to set them up for success. Not quite sure how much sleep your child needs? The American Academy of Pediatrics has a handy chart and factsheet on how to manage your child’s sleep hygiene from the day they are born until they reach their teenage years.
Read it here: Healthy Sleep Habits by the American Academy of Pediatrics
5. YouTube Channel: Get Kids Moving
Regular exercise not only helps your child build strong bones and muscles, but it can also help to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression while also helping to improve self-esteem. The Get Kids Moving channel draws inspiration from popular TV and films like Marvel, Star Wars, and Frozen to get kids hyped up about exercising.
Watch it here: Get Kids Moving
6. YouTube Channel: Kids Yoga, Music & Mindfulness
If your child prefers a more calm and relaxed approach to exercise, we encourage you to check out Bari Koral’s yoga, music, and mindfulness YouTube channel for kids. From mini yoga classes to silly songs, this channel has plenty to offer for younger children.
Watch it here: Kids Yoga, Music & Mindfulness by Bari Koral
7. Article: How to Teach a Child Forgiveness
Learning how to forgive and let go of anger is another important tool kids can use to manage their mental health. Forgiveness not only helps kids maintain their relationships, but it can also help to cultivate a positive and empathetic mindset. If you’re not quite sure how to navigate this with your child, we invite you to check out this helpful guide for parents from Mindful, which breaks down how to speak with your child about forgiveness as early as age four.
Watch it here: How to Teach a Child Forgiveness by Mindful
8. Video: Cultivating Forgiveness
The act of forgiving someone for something that you feel angry, emotional, or sad about is difficult for adults and children alike. We love this video from PBS Learning that helps children navigate the complex themes surrounding forgiveness – perfect for older children ages 7-12.
Watch it here: Cultivating Forgiveness by PBS Learning Media
9. Downloadables: Activity Village
Giving your child the opportunity to be creative helps them build their self-esteem and problem-solving skills. When you’re in need of some ideas on how to be creative, the Activity Village website is a great resource to turn to. It’s packed with puzzles, printable colouring sheets, and craft ideas to help get your family’s creative juices flowing.
Check it out here: Activity Village
10. App: The Cat in the Hat Builds That
“The Cat in the Hat Builds That” is a creative game that you can download on a smartphone or tablet. The aim of the game is to introduce young children to science and engineering concepts, while also giving them the chance to explore, build, and solve problems. We also love that the game features parent-child activities so that you can play together!
Check it out here: The Cat in the Hat Builds That
11. Video: Positive Affirmations for Kids – Hip-Hop Style
Every child deserves to start their day from a place of positivity. This video features over three minutes of positive affirmations for kids spoken in a fun hip-hop style. We recommend playing it in the morning while your child is getting ready or on the way to school to start the day with a positive mindset!
Watch it here: Positive Affirmations for Kids by PINK THUMB Pre-K & Kindergarten Learning Channel
12. Video: Space Breathing
We’ve all heard the advice to “take a deep breath” – but did you know research shows that deep breathing has a calming effect on the body and also helps to lower stress levels? Introduce your child to breathing exercises with the help of this space-themed guided meditation from Cosmic Kids Yoga.
Watch it here: Space Breathing by Cosmic Kids Yoga
13. Resource Library: Healthy Kids’ Recipes
Getting your child to eat healthily on a regular basis is no easy task – especially when there are so many temptations out there like sweets, treats, and fast food! However, eating a nutritional diet is paramount for your child’s physical and mental wellbeing. For inspriation on healthy (and kid-friendly) meal ideas, check out this library of helathy kids’ recipes from BBC Good Food.
Check it out here: Healthy Kids’ Recipes from BBC Good Food
14. Video: Healthy Eating
If you have plenty of good recipes on hand but need that extra help explaining “why” we need to eat healthy to your child, we encourage you to check out this introduction to healthy eating video from Tesco. Aimed at children ages 5-11, this quick 2-minute video explains that food is our fuel, and we need to eat a balanced diet in order to have enough energy to do the things we love.
Watch it here: Healthy Eating by Tesco’s Eat Happy Project
15. Resource: Healthier Families
The Healthier Families initiative by the NHS features a resource library of recipes, games, and quick tips to help families move more and eat healthier. You can also sign up for their regular newsletter to get access to their latest resources and recipes.
Check it out here: Healthier Families from the NHS
16. Video: Active Listening
This year’s theme for our International Weekend of Self-Care campaign is “Let’s Talk”, and we’re exploring the role that communication plays in our ability to self-care. That’s why we are recommending this video on effective communication by Amaze Org. Have your child watch the “communication olympics” to learn all about what good communication looks like in common real-life scenarios.
Watch it here: How to Communicate Effectively by Amaze Org
16. Video: Active Listening
This year’s theme for our International Weekend of Self-Care campaign is “Let’s Talk”, and we’re exploring the role that communication plays in our ability to self-care. That’s why we are recommending this video on effective communication by Amaze Org. Have your child watch the “communication olympics” to learn all about what good communication looks like in common real-life scenarios.
Watch it here: How to Communicate Effectively by Amaze Org
17. Video: PBS Kids Talk About Feelings & Emotions
Another excellent resource from PBS Kids is their video featuring young children together with their parents talking about their emotions and opening up. We recommend watching this video together with your child. You may even find it helpful to pause after each question so that your child can answer and share their emotions and stories too!
Watch it here: PBS Kids Talk About Feelings & Emotions
18. Downloadable: 2022 Self-Care Packet from The Lily-Jo Project [for children and families]
The last resource on the list is our official 2022 International Weekend of Self-Care packet for kids and families!
This resource is packed with:
- Reading material on self-care
- Kid-friendly exercises and worksheets
- Links to additional resources and further help
Grab your packet here: Self-Care Packet for Kids and Families
If you have a teenager or you’d like a packet for yourself, you can access this year’s resource for adults here: Self-Care Packet for Adults and Teens.
The International Weekend of Self-Care
This blog article is a part of The Lily-Jo Project’s International Weekend of Self-Care campaign which takes place in August. To learn more about this campaign and access additional self-care resources, visit www.thelilyjoproject.com/internationalweekendofselfcare.
Further Resources on Self-Care
If you found this article helpful, check out these other resources on self-care provided by The Lily-Jo Project.
- Even Olympians Need to Step Back: What Simone Biles Can Teach our Children about Self-Care and Prioritizing Mental Health
- Top 5 Self-Care Products for Young Children
- Self-Care for the Whole Family…How to Create a Plan to Strengthen Our Bodies and Minds
- Finding the Good: Five Affirmations to Build Self-Esteem in Our Children
About the Author: Shelby Hale
Shelby has been with The Lily-Jo Project since October of 2018, serving as the platform’s PR and Communications Manager. Having lived in four different countries throughout her young adulthood, Shelby is passionate about the positive impact new experiences can have on mental health.
When she’s not working with The Lily-Jo Project, she supports other projects through her creative agency, Hale Marketing and Communications. If you’d like to stay updated with Shelby’s story, you can find her on Instagram and Twitter.
