This is a guest blog written by Stephanie Haywood of mylifeboost.com.

Many of today’s children have fast-paced lives full of endless activities, busy schedules, and mounting pressures. Experts warn that overscheduled kids face many issues, including stress, fatigue, emotional deregulation, antisocial behavior, and even physical problems such as headaches and digestive issues.

If children are to live healthier and more balanced lives, they must be taught to slow down, look inward, and nurture themselves. To help your own child, consider these strategies that encourage and teach the importance of self-care.

 

Establish Healthy Habits

Encourage healthy routines because the habits children develop when they are young often stay with them forever. Start by prioritizing sleep because inadequate slumber can impair physical and mental health. To ensure your kids get the sleep they need, establish a consistent nighttime routine, encourage your kids to wind down without technology, and set an example by getting enough rest yourself.

Similarly, make healthy eating part of your family life. Stock the kitchen with plenty of nutritious options, avoid keeping junk food in your house, and make a point of sitting down as a family for dinner each night.

 

Limit Screen Time

In today’s digital world, it’s easy to let cell phones, streaming entertainment, and social media usurp more important things, such as face-to-face encounters and self-reflection. Experts contend that technology can be especially harmful to young people, causing issues such as loneliness, materialism, and insecurity.

To reduce your child’s dependence on technology, consider these steps:

• Don’t rely on devices to keep your young children quiet or occupied

• Encourage fun and engaging tech-free activities

• Be a good role model by limiting your own use of electronics

• Establish reasonable age-based limits for screen time

• Don’t allow devices in the bedrooms or at the dinner table

• Not only can these measures reduce your child’s reliance on technology, but they can also free up more time for self-care.

 

Prioritize Outdoor Play

Most adults have fond memories of spending time outside. There’s something invigorating about being surrounded by nature, breathing in the fresh air, and feeling the sun on your skin.

Help your children create the same good memories by encouraging them to play outside. In addition to being fun, interacting with nature provides many health benefits, including reduced stress, improved sleep, more energy, and better focus.

Additionally, kids need the chance to move. Running, jumping, climbing, and skipping outdoors provide them with a natural form of exercise. It’s not surprising that research shows that children are twice as active when playing outside.

Need some inspiring ideas for some outdoor activities? Visit Happy Camper Live to find hundreds of activities and create your own adventure!

 

Set a Good Example

Children learn by what they see more than what they hear. Because they are always learning by example, your own self-care can have a strong impact. When you prioritize your health and choose self-nurturing activities, your kids will learn to do the same.

Conversely, if you feel stressed and anxious, those negative emotions can impact your child. Engage in regular self-care activities to nurture yourself and guard against negative feelings:

• Take the time to exercise even when you are busy

• Don’t let work obligations overtake your time with family or friends

• Prioritize your health by eating well and getting sleep

• Avoid judging yourself or engaging in negative self-talk

• Take breaks whenever you feel the need to avoid burning out at work

One of the most important gifts you can give your children is the ability to assess and attend to their own needs. When children are equipped with the awareness and self-care skills to meet their own needs, they can approach life in a healthier and more balanced way.