Why is self-care important for children? Everyone should practice self-care to give themselves a break from their hectic lives, refresh their minds, and take care of themselves mentally, emotionally, and physically. And self-care is equally important for our children too! As a parent, it’s easy to get so caught up in our own adulthood issues that sometimes, we may forget that our children have struggles of their own too. It can be extremely beneficial for our children to learn this at a young age so they can benefit from it in the future. Self-care skills are one of the first ways that children develop the ability to plan and sequence task performance, to organise the necessary materials. Parents and caregivers can teach their children healthy self-care habits at any age. One of the simplest and most effective ways to teach self-care is to be a good role model. It can help them learn how to deal with stress in the future and reduces their risk of developing mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression. 
No. 1 – How to encourage our children to start self-care? Remember to start small. When it comes to encouraging children to explore self-care on their own, consider their age and development abilities. Praise our children for trying something new on their own, this will build their confidence level and they can more likely complete the tasks on their own again in the future. This also teaches them to be more independent and understand how to take care of themselves. When our children practice self-care, they learn to identify their physical and emotional needs and can also start to learn to take care of others who are in need too. If your child is feeling overwhelmed with school or social pressures, massage can be a great tool for promoting relaxation. Why not try practising on each other as a family bonding time? HYSSES massage oil fuses aromatherapy with just the right amount of slip for that much-needed relief for your body and mind. Doing nice things for others can improve children’s sense of well-being and community. Perhaps it’s doing a good deed for a neighbour or getting involved with a local volunteering group – charitable acts for others can be a form of self-care. 
No. 2 – Develop good habits and hobbies in the self-care routine Helping your child develop positive habits from a young age and giving them the tools to build healthy self-esteem is necessary for their future own well-being. Practice makes perfect, forming habits takes practice. Nowadays, many children often get lost playing video games or mobile games, watching episodes of their favourite TV show, or consuming too much screen time. Too much screen time can make us feel sluggish and disconnected so taking regular breaks is essential. Teaching them to regulate their own use of technology at a young age will help them as they become teenagers and adults in a digital world. The concept of self-care is about integrating positive habits into their daily routine so they can live to their full potential. Movement and creative activities can provide an emotional outlet and foster connection. Arts and music can have a great positive impact on our children’s development and well-being. Try to put away distractions, join our children and truly be present in the joyful moments. Having fun together helps families feel more connected. Making delicious and nutritious meals together as a family can be a great way to unwind, have fun and spend some quality time. When you have an active lifestyle, you are more likely to be healthier mentally, physically, and emotionally. Help your children learn that being active can help them to destress and feel better. Spend more time outside with your children. Have fun outdoor adventures that allow them to explore and enjoy time outside. You can bring along HYSSES anti mosquito soothing lotion mist for repelling the unwanted bugs away. 
No.3 – Communication is the key. Start a healthy conversation, a huge part of self-care revolves around mental health and emotions. Turn conversation time into a bonding experience. It is important for families to carve out space for quiet time. Talking to your children is a great way to help them develop the right skills to identify and manage their emotions. When your child has a tantrum or is feeling upset, talk to them about their emotions and figure out ways to manage them. By helping your children better understand their emotions, they can understand how to handle them. This is a great way to practice self-care and get in touch with their emotions. 
No.4 – Spend some time alone. This teaches our children about balance in life. They may struggle with being alone but this skill is needed as they grow up, they may face challenges that they need to overcome by themselves. Learning how to balance learning and play with rest is an important life skill. Also, to avoid too much screen time, they can do deep breathing exercises or meditation to relax especially if they are feeling nervous. You can use essential oil blends like HYSSES Remedies, Stress Relief using the Ultrasonic Water Mist for diffusion. Encourage your child to pick a good book to read as part of their relaxation strategy. Or go for a stroll at the neighbourhood park to breathe in the fresh air. Nature can be a wonderful healer. And not forgetting the most important part – have enough rest. Even the most extroverted child needs time to rest on their own. Taking a break is a way to keep ourselves healthy. 
No.5 – Self-care for teens As parents, we always have our teens’ best interests at heart. With exams and social pressures, life can get stressful for our teenagers. That’s why self-care strategies such as body confidence and mental resilience become really important during this stage of growing up. We prepare them for adulthood by nurturing their social skills, helping them and providing them with support for their emotional health and well-being. They may still need some help coping with stressful situations or during examinations. Try diffusing HYSSES Chakras, Third Eye for better concentration. The important thing to remember about self-care is to make intentional choices that would help our children to develop good habits even when dealing with difficult situations. If you struggle with self-care, you can slowly add more self-care and compassion into your life to reflect a new-found appreciation and acceptance of who you are and what you need.