Some kids run until they crash.
Others simmer quietly and stew, internalizing the noise of the world until it becomes too loud inside their heads.
No matter the personality, all kids need space to reset. The tricky part is, they don’t always know how to ask for it—and as adults, we’re not always great at noticing when they do.
Self-care isn’t just for grown-ups with planners and wellness podcasts.
It’s for the four-year-old who feels overwhelmed after a day of preschool group projects and the six-year-old who can’t explain why their stomach hurts before soccer practice.
It’s time we bring the conversation down to kid level.
Making Quality Time with Your Kids (Busy Schedule and All)
In the whirlwind of a busy work life, it can be easy to let time with your children slip through the cracks.
But consistent, meaningful communication with your kids is the foundation of a strong relationship, and it’s essential to show them they are a priority.
Whether it’s carving out time for a quick call during lunch or being fully present when they need to talk about their day, these moments help reinforce trust and understanding.
Even if your work schedule is demanding, making time for your kids is crucial—this might mean setting aside time for their bedtime routine every night, no matter how long your to-do list is.
The Power of a Solo Walk (Even in Circles)
There’s something underrated about letting a kid walk around by themselves for a few minutes.
Not on a street corner or down a busy sidewalk, but in the backyard, around a safe cul-de-sac, or even just pacing in their room.
Movement gives the mind something to do while feelings shake themselves loose.
You might see them muttering to themselves, or kicking a pinecone across the driveway. It looks aimless, but that’s the point—it’s their version of a mental exhale, and it works.
Creative Messes as Emotional Detox
Sometimes the fastest way to a clear head is through a pile of glitter, glue, and unexplainable doodles.
Kids process stress in the act of creating—especially when it’s unstructured. No prompt, no Pinterest goals, just a pile of materials and full permission to make something useless.
You’re not aiming for refrigerator art; you’re giving them a tactile escape hatch. And if it ends in a glorious, paint-splattered disaster?
Even better.
Which is why going outside is so therapeutic.
Water Isn’t Just for Hygiene
There’s a reason baths calm even the crankiest toddlers. But even older kids benefit from time spent splashing, soaking, or simply running their hands under warm water.
A midday bubble bath, a few minutes of spraying the hose outside, or even an extended face-washing session can signal a reset to their nervous system.
When the inside feels chaotic, the soothing sensation of water offers a temporary anchor. Plus, it gives them a task—something to do with their hands while their minds settle.
Journals Aren’t Just for Writers
Not every kid wants to write their feelings, and that’s fine. But a private notebook where they can draw and scribble can be a useful tool for resetting.
You can offer prompts like “draw what your brain feels like today” or let them go wild. Some kids create characters to express moods they can’t name yet.
Others make lists, charts, or stories that seem random but are really their way of making sense of the day. It’s not about making them more reflective—it’s about giving them a mirror that doesn’t judge.
Tiny Chores, Big Control
It sounds counterintuitive—how is doing a chore self-care?
But small, doable tasks like folding towels, watering plants, or organizing their books offer something deeper: control.
When a kid feels out of sync, having a job they can complete without adult micromanaging can bring them back into focus.
It’s not about productivity. It’s about giving them a role in their own rhythm again. Even the smallest task, done solo, can restore a sense of balance.
Letting Silence Stretch Out
The world talks to kids constantly.
School, home, sports, screens—all noise, all the time.
Self-care can look like nothing at all. No music. No podcasts. No one is asking questions.
Just letting them lay on the floor, stare at the ceiling, and be. We underestimate silence because it feels empty.
But to a child who’s overstimulated, it’s a hidden kind of fullness. It gives their brains a chance to breathe without being told how.
Turning Self-Care Into Ritual, Not Rescue
Here’s the heart of it: self-care for kids shouldn’t be an emergency tool.
It should be a regular rhythm, baked into the everyday. Not because something’s wrong, but because being a kid is intense.
When you treat their need to reset as normal, they learn it’s okay to take breaks. They start recognizing their own signals earlier.
Over time, those solo walks, scribbled journals, and warm baths stop being “fixes”—they become habits.
Healthy ones.
Helping kids develop self-care habits doesn’t require a Pinterest board, a wellness journal, or a schedule full of mindfulness classes.
It starts with small, quiet moments where they’re allowed to just be human.
When you normalize rest, creativity, silence, and solo space, you’re giving kids the tools to recognize and respond to their needs long before burnout becomes their baseline.
Self-care for children isn’t indulgent—it’s essential.
And the more we treat it that way, the more grounded they’ll grow.
Thanks to Chloe Pearson for this article. She’s a research specialist and freelance writer. She enjoys volunteering for Consumer Health Labs because she understands that in order for consumers to make the best decisions about their health they need reliable, well-researched information on which to base those decisions.
Image courtesy of https://www.freepik.com/.