Self-Care Myths Discussion

This discussion is designed to help 5th-grade students explore common myths about self-care and understand that taking care of themselves is an important part of being supportive of others.

Guidelines for Discussion

1. Introduction: Begin by briefly summarizing what self-care is and why it is important. Talk about how sometimes people think taking care of yourself is selfish, but actually, self-care gives you more energy and a happier mindset to support others.

2. Open-Ended Questions: Use the following questions to guide the conversation:

   • What do you think self-care means?
   • Can you share an example of a self-care activity you enjoy?
   • Have you heard anyone say that self-care is selfish? What do you think about that?
   • How might taking care of yourself help you be a better friend or family member?

3. Encourage Sharing: Invite students to share their thoughts and experiences. Emphasize that every idea is valuable and that there are no wrong answers.

4. Debunking Myths: After students share, summarize what was said and provide insights to dispel any myths. Highlight that self-care is necessary for mental and emotional well-being.

5. Follow-Up Points:

   • Ask students to think about one small self-care activity they can do every day at home or school.
   • Encourage them to reflect on how these activities make them feel and help them in other areas of life.
   • Optionally, have students write or draw one self-care practice that works for them.

Reflection Prompt

Take a moment to write down or share aloud one new self-care idea you might try after today’s discussion. How do you think it will benefit you and the people around you?

Remember, self-care isn’t selfish—it’s a way to keep ourselves happy and healthy so we can be our best for others!

Self-Care Role-Play Scenarios

This activity engages 5th-grade students in role-playing different scenarios that explore the importance of self-care. Through acting out a variety of situations, students will see first-hand how taking care of themselves can help them be better friends, students, and family members.

Guidelines and Steps

1. Introduction
   

   • Begin by explaining to the class that sometimes, when we don't take care of ourselves, we might feel tired or upset, and that can make it harder to help others. Remind them that self-care is a way to recharge and be ready for everything in their day.

2. Divide Into Groups
   

   • Break the class into small groups of 3-4 students each.
     
   • Assign each group one of the self-care scenarios below (or allow them to choose one from the list).

3. Role-Play Scenarios
   

   • Each group should create a short skit demonstrating how a person can incorporate self-care into a challenging situation. Encourage creativity while ensuring the focus remains on the benefits of self-care.

   Example Scenarios:

   • Missing Rest: A student feels tired after a long day of school and learns how taking a short break or a quick nap can help them feel refreshed.
   • Lunchtime Conflicts: A group of friends have a disagreement during lunch. One friend suggests a calm break or deep breathing exercise to help everyone settle down.
   • Homework Stress: A student dealing with homework frustration decides to take a moment to step back, have a snack, or play a quick game to ease stress before returning to their work.

4. Performance and Feedback
   

   • Have each group perform their role-play in front of the class.
   • After each role-play, invite the other students to share what they observed regarding self-care benefits and how it helped in the scenario.

5. Reflection
   

   • Conclude the activity by asking each student to write or share one self-care practice they might try at home or school. They should consider how this practice could help them feel more energetic and ready to support others.

Reflection and Discussion Prompts

• How did taking a break or doing a self-care activity change the way the scenario unfolded?
• In what ways do you think practicing self-care can help you manage school and your relationships better?

Remember: Self-care is not selfish! It’s a way to keep ourselves healthy and happy so we can be the best we can be for ourselves and those around us.