BODY

We live in a busy world and taking time to look after your physical health can be difficult. As a parent of a child with special health care needs you likely prioritise your child and family over yourself. But if you neglect your fitness and diet you will not have the energy to give the best of yourself to your child. So to care for others you must also look after yourself. Take some time to watch the videos below, to read the educational materials and to test some of the ‘body’ exercises.

Videos - LIVED EXPERIENCE

In these interviews parents discuss the impacts of parenting a child with special healthcare needs on their physical health. They also provide self-care and relaxation tips and some ways they manage to practice self-care.

Videos - Professional advice

Dr Linda Campbell talks about the importance of self-care, and how some parents manage to practice self-care. Dr Campbell also provides recommendations on how parents can practice self-care when caring for a child with special healthcare needs.

Dr Heather Burnett talks about the importance of taking care of yourself. Dr Burnett also provides recommendations on how parents can practice self-care when caring for a child with special healthcare needs.

Nicole discussed the importance of self-care and the barriers faced by parents of children with special needs. Nicole also provides recommendations on ways parents can practice self-care.

In this interview, Dr Tracey Dudding-Byth discusses the barriers to self-care in parents and why practising self-care is especially important in parents caring for a child with additional needs.

Psycho-education and tIP SHEETS

Self-Care Tips for Parents
Practicing self-care means meeting your physical, emotional and spiritual needs. It's about learning how to refuel when you are feeling depleted and having tools in your "toolbox" to draw upon. Self-care is about taking time throughout your day to focus on your needs, re-calibrate, and recharge accordingly. Your needs are important, and taking care of yourself helps you to take better care of your family.

The importance of physical exercise as a way to look after self

Physical exercise releases feel-good chemicals in our whole body, it helps to rejuvenate our body and promotes sleep that we so desperately need to cope with our busy lives. Exercise does not need to take a long time, shorter and more regular activities can also help.

Nature as self-care

It is increasingly being recognised that engagement with and connection to nature is really important not only for our emotional wellbeing but also our physical health. Just spending a few minutes each day in nature can improve our sense of vitality, motivation, and mood but can also improve our cardiac health.

Food and health

Eating the right type of foods can help you feel better, think better and perform better during your usual daily activities.

EXERCISES TO IMPROVE ‘bodily’ WELLBEING

Reconnect with nature

Spend 5 minutes in a natural environment. You don’t have to go far, sit outside in the garden and have a cup of tea for 5 minutes or take a stroll in a nearby park or other natural environment. When you are out and about this exercise can help to quickly ground yourself in the present moment. The goal is to notice something that you are currently experiencing through each of your senses.

Increase physical activity

Do something physical over and above what you normally do but, and this is important, start small – and we mean really small. Just add five per cent to what you’re currently doing. Perhaps park your car a bit further away from the shops, or take the stairs instead of the elevator. Small changes are more likely to be sustainable and if they become part of your daily routine - even better.

What are you eating today?

Changing your diet is just like increasing exercise - changes need to be small and sustainable. Think about one meal that you are planning for today and aim for more veggies and fruit. Noticing what you are eating can also be a useful way of improving your relationship with food. Slow down and think about how you eat and why

Mindfulness activities

Mindfulness is not only good for your mind but also for your physical health, the activities below are short and can be practiced anytime of the day.