Self-Care Tips and Ideas for Children with Disabilities

Children who are living with disabilities often cope with stress and anxiety as they navigate the world around them, and their parents often struggle with those feelings as well. When it comes to helping your child feel better, learning some methods of self-care can benefit you both. Finding a healthy routine, starting a relaxing hobby, and meditating are just a few activities you and your child can do together that will help you both relieve stress and refresh both body and mind. When you’re ready to start stress-busting at home, consider utilizing the following ideas.

Model stress-relieving behaviors

Most children model their behavior after what they see at home, so if you can show your child some problem-solving methods that will help keep negative feelings at bay, the benefits will be doubled. One major cause of stress for adults is work, and for those who are working from home, it can often seem like the job never ends.

If you’re having trouble finding a good work/life balance, start a routine that will help you and your family members keep stress at bay during the week. This might involve creating a schedule that allows you to work uninterrupted, or setting some house rules that will prevent issues. Keeping communication open will help everyone stay on track.

Give them the right tools

When it comes to self-care, stress relief comes in many forms, and they all require their own tools. Some kids benefit from having quiet time when they can meditate or just rest without distraction. Others might enjoy a soothing activity, such as being creative, reading, or putting together a puzzle. Giving your child the right tools to help them learn to relax and practice mindfulness will allow them to shift their focus and recharge after a long day or a stressful week, and you can participate in those activities with them if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Teach them to cope

Stress isn’t the only negative feeling that children with disabilities must cope with; anxiety can also take its toll, and it can be challenging for young people to learn how to handle feeling anxious in the moment. Because not all anxiety triggers can be avoided at all times, it’s important for anxious kids to learn how to deal with those feelings when they arrive. You can help your child do this by creating a self-care kit that contains a comfort item, a journal or coloring book, and fidget toys, or by teaching them breathing methods that will help them get through tough moments.

Help them stay connected

Staying engaged in social activities with other children is important for kids of all ages, but it can be difficult to do during a pandemic. Help your child stay connected by giving them a way to keep in touch with their friends even if they’re participating in at-home learning or are quarantined, such as downloading a safe chat app or investing in a quality set of headphones with a mic so they can play video games with their buddies. With some supervision, you can help your child make the most of their friendships and stay active and involved no matter what’s going on in the world.

Giving your child the tools they need to practice self-care can be beneficial in several ways, from boosting their self-esteem to helping them beat anxiety in the moment. Keep the conversation about self-care open in your household in order to answer any questions your child may have.

About Emma Grace Brown

Emma Grace Brown has written 4 posts in this blog.

Emma Grace Brown lives her life by her rules; and it works! When she's not snuggling puppies, Emma promotes female empowerment through her website. Her mission is to help those who live with self-doubt to realize they don't have to mold themselves to conventionality.