Hello and welcome to Self-Care for Parents and Caregivers.  A video brought to you by Michigan State University Extension Early 
Childhood Team. 
Raising young children can be stressful and from time to time it can take its toll on parents and other caregivers. Self-care is a crucial way  
to ensure that adults caring for young children are prepared to invest the time and energy they need to be the best caregivers they can be.
If you aren’t taking care of yourself, you may not have much left to give your children. 
Michigan State University Extension has some suggestions for making sure that parents and caregivers take the time for self-care.  
Make sure your basic needs are met. In the hustle of trying to take care of young children, parents and caregiver’s needs often get 
overlooked. Think about the energy that you invest in making sure your child’s needs are met. You make sure they get enough to drink 
and eat, provide enough time for them to get the restful sleep they need as well as the exercise and time to play—do you do the same 
for yourself? 
Make it a routine. Just like you develop routines for your child, make self-care part of your daily routine. Come up with simple routines you can  
do to help you relax and unwind and take care of yourself. Maybe it’s taking a quick walk a few days a week, or making time to 
bake if that’s a hobby that you enjoy.
Start Small. Big changes can seem intimidating, don’t think of increasing your self-care as something big you have to do  
overnight. Break up the task into small pieces and find something small to start with, like challenging yourself to drink less caffeine to 
help you sleep better at night. 
Try writing down your goals and keeping track of your efforts—this can help motivate you to keep going and is a great way to see your 
progress. Once you have incorporated that change, try making another small change. 
Model self-care for your child. Let your child know what you are doing and why self-care is so important. You can tell them, “This is 
Daddy’s time to himself. When I go for a walk alone it gives me time to think and helps me feel calm and relaxed.” 
Children learn from watching us and when we show them that we value self-care they learn to value it too. 
Investing in your own well-being is a way to invest in your child’s well-being. Take the time to nurture yourself, so you have the energy and 
motivation to nurture your child. 
This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information on child development, academic success, 
parenting and life skill development, please visit the Michigan State University Extension website at www.msue.anr.msu.edu. 
