Self-Care Tips For Your Tween

Studies show that tween girls start to lose their confidence during puberty. And this problem seems to affect girls much more than it does boys, despite the fact that most girls statistically outperform boys academically at this age. The question, then, is “How can we, as parents, help these girls deal with all the changes their bodies are going through?” 

The answer may not be an easy one to find, but self-care can be an important part of the solution. And self-care, in this case, isn’t just referring to personal hygiene. While that is a big part of it, self-care should involve caring for the individual as a whole. How these girls feel about themselves is such an important factor, that it should be addressed in every area of their lives— academically, mentally, and physically. Here are a few tips for doing just that. 

Use aromatherapy 

Aromatherapy has been around for thousands of years. It works by sending molecules directly to the limbic system of the brain. And because our emotions and hormone balances can be affected so heavily by smell, certain scents can relieve a variety of symptoms.  

Many people find that aromatherapy does wonders for their emotional states. And you can buy bulk essential oils so that the whole family can benefit from them. Oils like lavender and frankincense can help moderate your tween’s stress levels, giving her quality sleep and relaxation. And if she happens to be dealing with mild depression, the same oils, in addition to bergamot and ylang ylang can help alleviate those symptoms, as well.  

Encourage her to volunteer 

Volunteering is a highly effective way to show your tween there’s more to the world than what goes on in her peer group. It can help her develop a more selfless view of the world and make her feel good about herself in the process.  

It’s a good idea to get the whole family involved, either volunteering together or taking on separate projects. And there are more benefits to it than you might think. For example, it can help people overcome loneliness and timidity. It can give them a place to make quality friends who care about others, and it can improve their self-esteem and overall feelings of emotional well-being. If you make this a lifestyle for your tween, she’ll likely carry it on through adulthood. 

Take her shopping 

Retail therapy may not be the answer to everything, but allowing your tween to choose clothing and items that bring her joy might help her make her feel better about herself. Sometimes, even items as basic as cute kids backpacks can make them happy and give them a sense of pride in ownership. 

But aside from the fun of buying new things, a shopping trip is the perfect time to bond and talk about important issues. It’s also a helpful way to broach subjects like appropriate clothing and guide her to items that represent her well. 

Limit her screen time 

Social media at this age can be detrimental to a tween’s mental state. And psychologists say it’s because they’re simply not ready for it. For one thing, their “underdeveloped frontal cortex can’t manage the distractions and temptations that come with social media use.”

Social media also does little for their development. Using it is not making them smarter or contributing to them positively in any way. But unfortunately, it’s highly addictive and difficult for them to limit it themselves. For these reasons, it’s extremely important that parents take control and set schedules and rules for using any social media platform.