5 Ways Newly Single Dads Can Prioritize Self-Care for Their Kids
Going through a divorce can turn your world upside down. If you’re a father who has will be sharing custody of your children after a divorce, both you and your kids need time and space to heal. Even if you feel unsteady, you want to help your kids feel settled again. Here are a few tips on self-care that can help you and your children relax during this stressful period in life.
Become a Role Model
When you’re raising your children as a single father, becoming an exemplary role model is one of the best things you can do for their well-being. For instance, by taking steps to reduce stress in your own life, you’ll be able to lower the overall stress levels for your whole household. If you’re currently working from home, coming up with a consistent schedule for yourself and your kids is the best way to keep everyone on track and create a solid foundation for your children.
Give Them Free Time
You might be tempted to schedule lots of activities for your children to distract them from the stress you’re all going through as a result of the divorce. But children need plenty of free time, too. Giving your children downtime when they can play without schedules or structure is great for their mental health. The Homeschool Mom states that kids with fewer time pressures are often more creative and have the opportunity to discover their own strengths.
Encourage Creativity
Speaking of creativity, encouraging your kids to try different forms of arts and crafts can be a lot of fun! This is an especially good idea for rainy days when kids can easily get bored staying indoors. You can paint, play with clay, make collages, and more. Remember, when your kids are focused on creative activity and get discouraged, you can always remind them that creativity has no specific rules - no one is going to come along and grade them. Hang their drawings and art projects up on your fridge so that they know how proud you are!
Exercise Outdoors
Today, lots of parents are wondering how to reduce the amount of time their children spend looking at screens. Exercising outdoors as a family is the easiest solution! Why is outdoor playtime so important for children? The California Beach Co. states that playing outdoors supports emotional and social development, especially when your kids are playing with friends! Furthermore, your kids will learn problem-solving skills and gain more knowledge about the natural world around them.
As your kids get older, you can let them play independently outdoors, but spending time outside together as a family is also beneficial! Plus, physical exercise outside will help your children improve their physical fitness, too.
Focus on Reading
Interested in more leisurely self-care activities? If you have young children, try reading to them on a daily basis. Reading to your children creates opportunities for you to bond and gives your child the chance to explore new interests through literature. Plus, your children will naturally expand their vocabulary and improve their grammar. If your children are older, you can pick out books to read together in your own time and then talk about them.
During times of major change, it’s easy to neglect self-care for your whole household. But when you’re going through a divorce, you need self-care more than ever - and so do your children. By following these suggestions, you’ll be able to focus on fun, easy self-care activities that your family can enjoy together.
Are you a father navigating a divorce? You will want to work with a divorce attorney to make sure the legal aspects of your divorce will be addressed properly. By hiring an experienced lawyer, you can make sure your parental rights will be protected, and you can reach an outcome to your case that will ensure that you can be the best possible parent for your kids.
