Many parents, particularly those in their 30s, were born in an age before wellness awareness. We only became aware of its importance later in our lives and that has meant that we had to incorporate wellness measures into our routines at quite a late stage when it was a bit more uncomfortable to do so. It is therefore useful to assist our kids to put the right wellness practices in place and make it part of their routines from a young age.
This is especially true when we face unexpected challenges such as the COVID-19 lockdowns, where everyone is cooped up at home. Where parents also have to work from home, there is a real danger that children might be kept from getting too rowdy by giving them too much screen time.
Never before has there been a greater need to look after the wellbeing of young ones, and the good news is that they are receptive to it, having been raised in an environment where the advantages of wellness are taught to them from a young age.
There are many toys available nowadays to assist children of all ages on their wellness and mindfulness journeys, such as the Breathe with Me Barbie doll, which takes children through meditation sessions. There are also a myriad children’s yoga channels on YouTube, with Cosmic Kids a firm favorite, while children can also tune into Sesame Street to do yoga with Elmo.
In addition to this available content, there are also many other instructional and engaging videos for kids of all ages, as well as child-centered apps for phones and tablets.
Away from the screen, there are also several emerging wellness trends. One of these is a movement towards generational wellness, as we understand the effect of loneliness on the older generation. Many families are starting to rediscover that being around one another has positive effects on all the generations involved and are constantly looking for more physical interaction, particularly after learning the hard way during lockdown that we all need each other.
Staying with the family, family wellness holidays are set to become even more popular as global and local travel normalizes. Many wellness resorts offer activities centered around the family, where everyone can play a part and strengthen not only the family bond, but also their mental well-being. Some of these activities are as simple as preparing a meal together, alongside the more traditional wellness treatments, adapted to be age appropriate.
A final and welcome trend in child wellness that is starting to emerge is the realization that some of our approaches to schooling were quite toxic and to the detriment of the child. The school environment often led to incredible competition between parents and children, both in academics and sports.
One thing that the lockdown has taught us is how none of that matters compared to our own children’s mental well-being. Most people would agree that we would be happy to see the end of competitive parenting.
If you wish to read more about my work, please check out my website, the Heavenly Life.