6.2: Promoting Self-Care in Childhood and Adolescence
- Page ID
- 247351
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There is burgeoning research that teaching children self-care practices provides preventative tools as they develop into adults leading to greater resilience as they encounter the stressors of life (Bond et al., 2007). According to Benard (2004) individuals with high resilience experience more social competence, greater problem-solving skills, a greater sense of autonomy or self-efficacy, and a greater sense of purpose.
Encouraging children to engage in physical activities has always been acknowledged as beneficial for good health and wellness. Recently, adding a focus on other components of self-care has shown benefits in children’s and adolescent’s mental health and resilience as well.
Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Encouraging children to develop a habit of both physical activity and meditation is essential for promoting overall health and wellness. (Photo by Kampus Production from Pexels)
Helping kids engage in emotional expression through talking about how they feel, journaling, and utilizing creativity through drawing, painting, music, or other creative expressions can help children manage stress and develop coping skills to help with emotional regulation as they grow.
Managing stress and anxiety by learning how to do deep breathing and meditation to help young people feel calm and confident as they move through their day. These practices are especially beneficial if they are incorporated into a daily routine.
Meditation, as well as reading, and doing hobbies are also excellent ways to encourage and improve concentration skills which are imperative for school children. These activities promote problem-solving skills and focus, making them better students.
Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Meditation can help children build the focus and problem-solving skills needed for school. (Photo by Yan Krukou from Pexels)
These practices help young people develop self-reliance and a greater sense of independence. This leads to greater resilience and autonomy which helps them understand how important they are and what they bring to the world.
Have you worked with a child or adolescent and helped them learn self-care techniques? What were they? Do you feel it helped? Why or why not?
This reflection question is also available as a PDF download: Promoting self-care in childhood and adolescents