5 ways to promote self-expression in your child

As Dr Suess once said: “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You”. But in a world of social media and peer pressure it can be difficult for all of us (even us grown ups!) to always remain true to who we are. 

Children’s Mental Health Week have reported strong links between good mental health and authentic self-expression – so to be healthy and happy you got to Express Yourself!  

We’ve come up with 5 actionable ways to encourage your children to celebrate their true self, and express themselves!  

Identifying and discussing emotions can really help your kids gain some self-awareness into the way they are feeling and encourages healthy self-expression. Encourage them to think about why they are feeling that way – it will help them to realise the external factors that make them feel good or bad.  

Download our free emoji chart to print out and stick to the fridge, and allow them to check-in with their emotions every day.  

Here’s a fun lockdown activity for you – encourage your child to make a ‘scrapbook’ of themselves. This can include who they are, their likes and dislikes, their strengths and interests….and so on. Let them have free reign over how they present this project. Perhaps it’s a scrapbook but maybe it’s a poster or even a video documentary. Maybe they will choose to stick in photographs or magazine cuttings, or draw/paint. This is all about THEM so encourage the freedom to get truly creative.  

Lead by example.  Let your kids see you celebrate your own quirks and interests, likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses! Be silly, let loose, do the things that you enjoy, wear the clothes that make you feel good, have things in your house that express your personality… whatever it is, ensure you are allowing your children to see YOU being authentic.