8 Ways to Encourage Self-Care for Kids

 

Self-Care for Kids on skateboard going up ramp.

8 Ways to Encourage Self-Care for Kids

While it may be easy to get kids to brush their teeth, self-care isn’t always so simple to encourage. After all, self-care can be difficult or even intimidating if you don’t know where to begin. However, children benefit from the habit of taking care of themselves just as much as adults do. Midcentury Preservation Society outlines ways you can encourage self-care for your children, so they learn the valuable skill that benefits them throughout their lives.

Exercise

Exercising is an excellent way to encourage kids to take care of themselves. Participating in sports is a great way to stay active, especially if your child already likes the sport or enjoys being part of a team. Getting outside and taking walks can also help kids relax and feel energized after school or on weekends. Same goes for dance, which intertwines exercise with creativity. You can even use different “exercise hacks” throughout the day as part of living a healthy lifestyle, such as taking the stairs instead of an elevator when you’re out and about. Whatever activity you choose, make sure it’s fun, so your child wants to participate and practice self-care through exercise.

Here’s one thing to keep in mind: If you decide to purchase home exercise equipment such as an exercise bike, it’s important to read up on these products before you purchase them. This way, you can ensure you’re spending money on a quality machine. There are many websites that offer handy reviews for many home products, allowing you to easily discover which ones are worth your money and which ones deserve to stay on the shelf.

Meditation

Meditation can teach your child to have more control over their thoughts and feelings. If there are signs of anxiety inside the home, such as excessive complaining and family members playing the blame game, it’s difficult to establish a living space conducive to calmness necessary for mediation to take place. That said, it’s important to remove sources of stress, such as clutter, so you can set the stage. Meditation isn’t just a practice where you sit still and empty your mind. It’s a state of mind where you acknowledge your thoughts and feelings, learn how to let them go, and KinderCare suggests centering yourself with breathing exercises.

Gratitude Journaling

Have your child practice gratitude journaling. To have a grateful attitude, they have to take stock of all they have. Writing down three things each day your child is grateful for can help reinforce their focus on positive things instead of focusing on what they don’t like. Focusing on negatives leads to an unhappy mind. Practicing self-care for kids is a lifestyle.

Art Therapy

Different By Design Learning points out that art therapy can help alleviate your child’s anxiety, give them a sense of accomplishment, and provide an outlet to express themselves in creative ways. Working on art projects with kids is also a great way for parents or other caregivers to learn more about what their kids are going through.

The Value of Getaways

Teach your kids how important it is to simply get away from time to time. Not only does this break up monotony. It gives you a chance to experience new things, new locales, and new people. One great way to make this a fun learning experience is to take a family trip to a destination that everyone will enjoy, like Disney World. There are plenty of ways to save on such a getaway; use a resource like MouseLifeToday.com to help you find deals on a variety of things, including tickets and places to stay.

Outdoor Fun

Creating a safe and fun outdoor space for your child with a place to play can be a great way to encourage self-care and promote a healthier lifestyle. Your kids benefit from fresh air and time in nature as well.

When it comes to the health of your lawn, it’s best to choose professionals. A professional aerator can fertilize, handle weed control, and ensure your lawn gets the correct nutrients for optimal growth. Don’t hire a lawn aeration service that isn’t licensed or insured. Doing so may end up costing you time and money if anything goes wrong. Check for referrals from satisfied customers and reviews online before making your final decision.

Reduce Family Stress at Home

Discuss ways to reduce stress in your family’s life, such as mindfulness meditation and yoga. Explain how simple daily self-care can improve mental and physical health. If you work from home with kids underfoot, establish healthy boundaries between your family and professional life. It’s crucial to have a routine in place that facilitates stress-free productivity rather than distractions.

Life Skills

Encouraging self-care in your children can help them better handle things now and in later life. Many schools include gratitude or meditation exercises in their curricula. It can be done at home as well — even with young children. Remember to incorporate exercise, meditation, journaling, and, perhaps most importantly, make it fun!

5 Tips for Running Your Small Business Efficiently

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Woman on smartphone and computer

Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels

5 Tips for Running Your Small Business Efficiently

If you’re just getting a new business up and running or feel your company needs a tune-up, there are many ways to streamline your tasks. Statistics show that 85% of employees are not engaged at work, but working smarter and not harder can increase focus. By tweaking the way you operate, you can save yourself time and focus on the things that really matter. Here are five tips from Midcentury Preservation Society to get you started.

  1. Get Organized

Getting your documents, inventory, and workspace in order is paramount to the amount of mental clarity you experience. If you have difficulty keeping track of things, you will become buried in searching and clutter. Start by digitizing your papers. Use a scanning app to produce high-quality, searchable scans of documents. Text recognition means you can type in any key phrase in a document and pull it up quickly. Then, you can get rid of the physical congestion in your office.

Good organization is about more than your physical space. Once you’ve gone through the papers and organized your office space, use your calendar to schedule regular time for upkeep and to keep track of your daily schedule. Keeping your mind and schedule organized will help you to keep your space tidy, too.

  1. Solidify Your Business Structure

If you are a sole proprietor, you don’t always have to register your business officially. However, doing so can offer you lots of protection and make filing taxes easier. Look at how to start an LLC, or Limited Liability Company. An LLC will protect your personal assets and make filing taxes easier. Each state has different rules for filing, so be sure to research your specific area. In addition, you can use an online service to get professional support and expedite the process.

  1. Find a Community

In today’s individualized world, it’s easy to think you can or need to do everything on your own. But having support can help you navigate challenging times and get advice from others who have more experience. It can also provide networking opportunities and a chance to provide mutual help to other budding entrepreneurs.

Joining your local chamber of commerce is an excellent place to start—your local chamber of commerce advocates for policies that help small businesses in your area. Many chambers have large memberships and events that members can attend to connect with one another. You can also dramatically improve your networking by getting the word out via social media.

  1. Communicate Clearly

Excellent communication is the key to thriving relationships, business or otherwise. Studies show that poor communication can result in a failure to complete projects up to 44% of the time. Thankfully, there are lots of tools available that help teams stay on the same page. Apps like Trello, Evernote, and Slack help teams communicate and share deadlines and documents. Which app will work best for you will be determined by how big your team is, among other factors. Many of these apps have free basic features that allow you to try them with no risk.

It’s also important to communicate clearly with clients and vendors. You can use an invoice maker to create customized invoices with your logo and company specifics. Start with one of many template options, and change the font, text, and colors to match your needs. Then, there will never be a question about who owes what amount and for what good or service.

  1. Foster Creativity

It’s easy to get stuck in rote thinking patterns when you complete the same tasks every day. Making an effort to brainstorm and think outside of the box can help you be more innovative. One simple trick is changing your environment. For instance, if you work from home, even

Parenting 101: How to Raise Your Child Through Every Age and Stage

 

Child Reading Map How to Raise your child

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Parenting 101: How to Raise Your Child Through Every Age and Stage

While there is no one way to show up as a good parent, some basic ground rules can help you, as a parent, through every stage of your child’s development. Here, the Midcentury Preservation Society shares essential advice to follow for every age and stage.

Early Years

The early years are a time of significant change and development for your child. Here’s how to provide a loving and nurturing environment during this time:

Middle Years

The middle school years are when your child starts developing into their true self. Here’s how you can support them during this time:

Teen Years

Teens go through many changes, both physically and emotionally. Here’s how to lend your support and understanding during this time.

As a parent, you will always be worried about your child. The good news is that once you know what to expect in each stage of their life, you will feel better equipped to support them. Happy parenting!