Carrie-Anne Thomas – Acting Deputy Head of Primary

Student self-care

Traditionally, when we think of instilling self-care in children, we think about teaching them to brush their teeth, go to the toilet, wash their hair etc. However, it is now becoming more recognised and understood that we must also instil mental health self-care in our children. Self-care is all about what you can do to help yourself feel better or to keep yourself feeling good. It’s a way to look after our mental health and wellbeing. It can help your body and mind to relax, drift away, or be more energised.

Self-care helps children understand their physical and emotional needs. Promoting wellness of the body and mind can teach children to be less overwhelmed and regulate their emotions. In addition, it can improve friendships, and children will be equipped to deal with future challenges.

Everyone’s approach to self-care will look different. What works for one child might not work for others. There are many different self-care strategies to try out, and it can be fun working out which are best for your child and family. The main thing is to find something they enjoy. 

Self-care can be simple, straightforward and inexpensive. Daily practices such as exercising, getting enough sleep, and spending time with friends and family can all help improve mental health and wellbeing. The image below provides a self-care wheel with specific examples of activities for different areas of life that your family may like to try over the summer break. It also includes a daily self-care checklist and a self-care menu that demonstrates to children that caring for themselves can be done in as little as 5 minutes a day. 

I hope that you will find this a valuable resource. 

I wish you all a fun and relaxing holiday and look forward to seeing all the students return to school in 2023 after a much deserved break!