This page will provide you with some self-care activities and ideas to help look after your and your child's well being and mental health during these difficult and uncertain times.
Mindful Activities
1. The Bell
Ring a bell (you could use an online audio clip or video) and ask your child to listen carefully to the vibration of the ringing. Ask them to stay silent and raise their hand when they can no longer hear the sound. Then ask them to stay silent for one more minute to pay attention to any other sounds once the ringing has stopped. After, ask them to share the sounds that they noticed during that minute. Young children love this and it helps them connect to the present moment and the sensitivity of their perceptions. |
2. Breathing Buddies
Have your child lie down on the floor and put their favourite stuffed animal on their stomach. Ask them to breathe in silence for one minute and notice how their Breathing Buddy moves up and down, and any other sensations they notice. Ask them to imagine that any thoughts that come into their head turn into bubbles and float away. Having a Breathing Buddy there makes the meditation more friendly and shows the children that a playful activity doesn’t have to be noisy. |
Go to the Mindfulness4U website for more of these wonderful meditation ideas:
Alternatively, go to: https://mindfulness4u.org/mindfulness-activities-children/
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The Cosmic Kids Youtube channel has lots of different mindfulness and yoga videos that your child could watch and join in with at home!
Click the button below to access the channel and their selection of videos: |
You could lead your child in a mindfulness session using these guided imagery scripts:
You can visit these websites to gain access to more meditation and guided imagery scripts:
Alternatively, go to: https://www.greenchildmagazine.com/guided-relaxation/
Alternatively, go to: http://kidsrelaxation.com/?cat=15
Colouring is a very relaxing and beneficial mindful activity for children. Click on the button to download a pack of mindful colouring pages, or try some of the other activities below.
Ask your child to close their eyes and scribble on a blank page, letting their pencil move as freely as they want, changing directions and crossing over the lines they have already done. When they open their eyes, give them some colouring pencils or pens and encourage them to colour all the different sections they have made with their pencil. This will create a beautiful, unique and original mindful piece of art.
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Self-care
Choose some self-care activities from the list to do together with your child!
1. Go outside! For a walk, to play, or just to enjoy the fresh air. 1. Listen to music and have a dance party. 3. Have a games night. 4. Lie on the grass and look for cloud shapes. 5. Paint your nails or do a face mask. 6. Cook or bake something. 7. Read a book. 8. Go outside when it is dark and star gaze. 9. Tidy your room. 10. Call or FaceTime family or friends. For some more ideas, click the button below: Alternatively, go to:
https://www.andnextcomesl.com/2017/06/self-care-activities-for-moms-to-do-with-kids.html |
Positivity
We can teach children to accept negative emotions and process them in a healthy way. We can encourage positive thinking and positive affirmations.
Activities to inspire a positive attitude in your child:
Affirmations on the mirror - help your children use sticky notes or washable markers to place or draw affirmations on the mirror. This way, when they look in the mirror, they will see more than their physical appearance. They will be reminded of all the ways they matter and make a difference in the world.
Treasure chest of goodness - buy or build a small wooden treasure chest or, alternatively, use an empty tissue box. Allow your child to decorate it and fill it with positive 'I am' affirmations that they believe about themselves, such as 'I am a good friend,' or 'I am kind.'
Three good things - at the end of each day, encourage your child to write down three things that went well during their day. The goals is to focus on the GOOD and celebrate it together.
Treasure chest of goodness - buy or build a small wooden treasure chest or, alternatively, use an empty tissue box. Allow your child to decorate it and fill it with positive 'I am' affirmations that they believe about themselves, such as 'I am a good friend,' or 'I am kind.'
Three good things - at the end of each day, encourage your child to write down three things that went well during their day. The goals is to focus on the GOOD and celebrate it together.
Useful Websites
Or alternatively, go to: https://www.5minutefun.com/wellbeing-activities-for-kids-stuck-indoors/
Or alternatively, go to: http://www.safehandsthinkingminds.co.uk/covid-anxiety-stress-resources-links/
Or alternatively, fo to: https://childmind.org/article/how-mindfulness-can-help-during-covid-19/