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This piece was created for Cubby, our weekly newsletter for families at home. Want more? Sign up here for a weekly splash of fun and good ideas for families with kids. Join us over on Instagram<\/a> for more! <\/p>\n Cubby. Real solutions for unreal times.<\/p>\n Join us for a weekly dose of fresh, modern ideas for life at home with your kids.<\/p>\n Subscribe to Cubby!<\/a><\/p>\n As much as these are pandemic times, marked by sourdough starters and Zoom school, who could fault the history books if they also remember this as the era of self-care? Ever ubiquitous, the cultural prompt to luxuriate and indulge seems to haunt our every scroll, pulling ads and articles on everything from relaxing facial rollers to CBD oils and beyond.<\/p>\n Thank goodness for kids. Leave it to our favorite little humans to remind us that taking care of ourselves and one another has little to do with our purchasing power. Sure, a fancy candle that promises stress relief is a beautiful thing, but have you considered wiggling instead?<\/p>\n We tapped seven kids to share their self-care rituals \u2014 the brilliant (and sometimes goofy) moves they turn to when they need to unwind. Their answers are smart, insightful, and ripe for borrowing in your own home \u2014 especially during these trying times.<\/p>\n Visualize Your Happy Place<\/p>\n When she needs a moment to herself, 7-year-old Lucy hits the beach \u2014 mentally, that is. \u201cI bring out a towel and I get a drink and put in a tiny umbrella and listen to my imagination draw waves.\u201d When pressed for tips on trying out this self care strategy for ourselves, Lucy offered this: \u201cUse your favorite color for your umbrella for your drink. Listen to your imagination and pretend there\u2019s always a luau at your beach.\u201d<\/p>\n Get Silly With Your Movements<\/p>\n Three-year-old Sylvie may not have totally understood the question, but her response is nonetheless a good one: when she wants to relax her mind and her body, she wiggles very fast and sometimes hops like a frog. \u201cIt really does work,\u201d her big sister confirmed after quickly putting her tactic to the test. \u201cIt gets you laughing and very tired so that you\u2019re not thinking about anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n Imagine Your Thoughts are Clouds<\/p>\n \u201cI take a deep breath and I imagine clouds floating by. The clouds are my thoughts and they\u2019re floating away from me to relax my mind,\u201d said 7-year-old Emmeline. To try this for yourself, Emmeline recommends laying down in bed. \u201cThe clouds can move fast or slow, depending on what you like,\u201d she added. And if you\u2019re having a tough time with it and find yourself distracted? It\u2019s OK, Emmeline reassures, you can always try again later.<\/p>\n Put on Your Favorite Podcast<\/p>\n When it comes to unwinding on her own, 8-year-old Violet is a multi-tasker, turning on a podcast while she cleans her room. \u201cMy favorite podcast is Wow in the World. I especially like episodes about food,\u201d she said. For a dose of peace in your own home, check out relaxation-specific podcasts<\/a> for little ones that feature soothing audio stories and kid-friendly mindfulness meditations.<\/p>\n Snuggle In<\/p>\n Never underestimate the power of a good snuggle. Both Rosie, age 4, and Eli, age 10, mentioned finding calm through cuddling. For Rosie, including her stuffed animals is key, but Eli gets more specific. \u201cMy favorite way to relax is laying in bed playing some games with no sounds on,\u201d he said. \u201cI need my Union Jack blanket because it is super soft, and I like laying with our dogs if they aren\u2019t barking, and maybe having a snack.\u201d<\/p>\n Settle Down With a Puzzle<\/p>\n At 5 years old, Izzy is a whirlwind of activity and busy chatter. Puzzles, however, are the one thing that reliably slow her down and give her time to recalibrate, her mom shared. Plus, almost every household has one laying around! You can also borrow them from some libraries, too. \u201cI like puzzles and think they\u2019re relaxing,\u201d said Izzy. \u201cI have a Frozen one that is my favorite, but I think an Encanto one would be good next.\u201d Izzy suggests finding puzzles with beautiful artwork and taking breaks if you find yourself frustrated. It\u2019s meant to be relaxing, after all!<\/p>\n Further Reading<\/p>\n We Used Our New \u201cRoom Plan\u201d Tool to Give This Living Room 3 Distinct Styles \u2014 See How, Then Try It Yourself<\/a><\/p>\n