It’s another resource roundup – but this time, for children and families!
In honour of our #InternationalWeekendofSelfCare campaign, here is a list of our top 18 self-care resources that can help families with young children implement good self-care practices at home.
But First… What is Self-Care?
There are lots of different ways to define self-care. At The Lily-Jo Project, we think self-care is best defined as:
- 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 well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.
For children and families, this means making physical, mental, and spiritual health a priority for everyone in the household.
At the most basic level, self-care is making sure that each member of the family is:
- Getting enough sleep
- Maintaining a balanced diet
- Exercising regularly
Beyond that, self-care can also look like:
- Relaxing and unwinding
- Being creative
- Practising gratitude and forgiveness
- Taking time to reflect on life and emotions
For many families, navigating the concept 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 2023 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 of 2023 for Children and Families
1. Book: Talking to Children About Mental Health by Lily-Jo
Lily-Jo’s debut book Talking to Children About Mental Health is a practical guide for adults, to help them understand the unique mental health challenges facing the children of today. In addition to reading the book, you can also check out its companion website with free webinars, blog articles, and interviews that cover a range of topics mentioned in the book.
Check it out: Talking to Children About Mental Health (Book + Resources)
2. Podcasts: Care for the Family
‘Care for the Family’ is a UK-based charity that provides support for families in the areas of marriage, parenting, and bereavement. Currently, they offer a trio of podcasts including ‘The Dad Cave’, ‘Parentalk: The Primary Years’, and ‘Raising Teens’.
Check it out: Care for the Family Podcasts
3. Book: Self-Care With Ted & Friends
Self-Care With Ted & Friends is a cute little book about self-care geared for young children. Themes include: building healthy habits, gratitude, sharing, empathy, resting, and learning.
Listen to the book on YouTube here: Self-Care With Ted & Friends
4. YouTube Channel: Happy Minds Meditation
Sometimes it can be so difficult to help young children wind down and relax. That’s why we love the ‘Happy Minds Meditation’ YouTube channel, which is packed with sleep meditations, bedtime affirmations, and bedtime stories that your children will love!
Check it out: Happy Minds Meditation
5. Website: Exercise With CBeebies
Make exercise fun with the help of CBeebies! This handy resource on the BBC website has simple videos and activities to help your family move more at home.
Check it out: Exercise With CBeebies
6. Guide: Mindfulness for Kids from Mindful
Do you want to help your children learn about mindfulness, but not quite sure where to start? We recommend checking out the ‘Mindfulness Guide for Kids’ from Mindful. This helpful guide walks readers through the basics of mindfulness for children and includes several practical activities to try at home.
Read it now: Mindfulness for Kids from Mindful
7. Song: ‘Forgive Me (Branch’s Apology Song)’ from Trolls
It’s never too early to start teaching young children about forgiveness. And what better way to start than with the help of this uplifting song from the Trolls movie?
Listen to it now: ‘Forgive Me (Branch’s Apology Song)’ from Trolls
8. Website: Scratch
Looking for new creative activities for your children? Why not check out ‘Scratch’ from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)? It’s a free coding community for kids where they can create their own stories, games, and animations.
Check it out: Scratch
9. Downloadables: Drawing Guides from Disney
More creative fun from the one and only Disney! This handy resource page features drawing guides, colouring sheets, and special tips to get your creative juices flowing.
Check it out: Drawing Guides from Disney
10. Video: The Affirmation Song
You may have already seen this song go viral on social media – it’s a fun affirmation song for children, performed by Snoop Dogg for his dedicated children’s channel on YouTube. It’s fun, upbeat, and you just can’t help but smile when you listen to it.
Listen to it now: The Affirmation Song from Doggyland
11. Website: Mindfulness Hub from the BBC
The BBC’s Mindfulness Hub is a treasure trove of information on mindfulness, relaxation, and emotional intelligence – we especially love all the free downloadable worksheets that can be used at home or in the classroom.
Check it out: Mindfulness Hub for Primary Schools from the BBC
12. YouTube Channel: Calming Connections
‘Calming Connections’ is another helpful YouTube channel to keep on hand for times when you need to create a calm environment. It’s perfect for nap time, reading time, and creative time!
Check it out: Calming Connections YouTube Channel
13. Guide: Nutritional Information for Children from the British Nutrition Foundation
When it comes to nutrition, there is so much noise and unhelpful information out there and navigating it all can feel overwhelming. That’s why we love this simple, science-backed nutritional guide for children from the British Nutrition Foundation.
Check it out: Nutritional Information for Children from the British Nutrition Foundation
14. Video: Guide to Healthy Eating from Teen Titans Go!
Eating healthily doesn’t have to be boring! Learn all about fruits, vegetables, and healthy eating habits from Teen Titans Go!
Watch it now: Guide to Healthy Eating from Teen Titans Go!
15. Article: ‘Raising Happy, Resilient Children’ from The Lily-Jo Project
Resilience is a skill that can be learned from an early age – check out our parenting writer Brandy Browne’s practical tips for helping young children develop resilience skills.
Read it now: ‘Raising Happy, Resilient Children’ from The Lily-Jo Project
16. Downloadables: The Happy News
We have always been big fans of the ‘Happy News’ from Emily Coxhead – and we absolutely love these free resource packs available in their shop! These downloadable packs are filled with happy news stories and activities aimed to inspire children to look for ‘the good’ in the world and in their lives.
Check it out: The Happy News Downloadable Packets
17. Parenting Support Group: Recharge
Everyone needs support – especially busy parents! If you are looking for some online support, we welcome you to check out our Facebook group for parents, teachers, and carers. This group is a safe place to ask questions, share resources, and chat with others about all things parenting and working with children.
Check it out: ‘Recharge’ Support Group
18. Downloadable: 2023 Self-Care Packet from The Lily-Jo Project
The last resource on the list is our official 2023 Self-Care Packets for Kids & Families! This downloadable packet is FREE and filled with:
- Reading material on self-care
- Fun exercises and worksheets
- Links to additional resources and further help
You can grab your packet here: Self-Care Packet for Kids and Families [2023].
You can also access our dedicated self-care packet for teens and adults here: Self-Care Packet for Teens and Adults [2023]
Final Thoughts
It’s never too early to expose your children to good self-care practices. Thankfully, there are a wealth of resources available to guide and support you through it! You’ve got this!
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 the following resources on self-care:
- Article from The Lily-Jo Project, How to Self-Care as a Makeup Artist: Cheri’s Story
- Article from The Lily-Jo Project, Let’s T.H.I.N.K. About Self-Care With Lily-Jo
- Article from The Lily-Jo Project, The Science of Self-Care + How to Build a Self-Care Routine
- Article from The Lily-Jo Project, How to Self-Care as a Seafarer: Lisa’s Story
- Article from The Lily-Jo Project, How to Self-Care When You Have Financial Struggles: Babs’ Story
About the Author: Shelby Hale
Shelby has been with The Lily-Jo Project since 2018, serving as the platform’s Content 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 LinkedIn.
