- Sproutly
- Posts
- đź’› Loving Ourselves Too: Self-compassion for parents and kids đź’›
đź’› Loving Ourselves Too: Self-compassion for parents and kids đź’›
Hello Sproutly Families,
We spend so much time teaching our children to be kind to others. But how often do we teach them, and ourselves, to be kind inwardly?
Self-compassion is the quiet skill of speaking to ourselves with gentleness instead of criticism. It’s the ability to say, “That was hard,” instead of, “I should have done better.”
Children learn how to treat themselves by watching how we treat ourselves. When we model grace after mistakes, patience during hard days, and kindness toward our own emotions, we give them permission to do the same.
As a family therapist, I often remind parents: you can’t pour empathy into your child if your own cup is empty. Loving ourselves, too, is not selfish it’s foundational.
In this newsletter, you will get....
Parenting Tips
Photo by Gustavo Fring on Pexels
Teaching Self-Compassion at Home
Model Gentle Self-Talk
Let your child hear you say:
“I made a mistake, and that’s okay. I’m still learning.”Normalize Hard Days
Say:
“Everyone has tough moments. It doesn’t mean we’re not doing our best.”Replace Criticism with Curiosity
Instead of, “Why did you do that?” try,
“What were you feeling when that happened?”Practice the “Friend Voice”
Ask your child, “What would you say to a friend who felt this way?” Then encourage them to say those same words to themselves.Create Reset Moments
Teach that mistakes are invitations to try again—not reasons for shame.
Activity of the Week
Photo by Jonathan Borba on Pexels
The Self-Compassion Script
You’ll Need:
Paper and markers
How to Do It:
Help your child fill in three simple sentences:
This is hard because…
Other people feel this way too…
I can be kind to myself by…
Post it somewhere visible as a reminder.
For younger children, simplify it to:
“It’s okay to feel ___.”
“I’m still loved.”
“I can try again.”
Why it works: It builds resilience by teaching kids that emotions and mistakes are part of being human.
Parent Reflection Prompts:
How do I speak to myself after a mistake?
Would I use that same tone with my child?
What small act of kindness can I show myself this week?
Self-compassion doesn’t lower standards, it strengthens resilience. When children know they are safe to make mistakes and still be loved, they grow into confident, courageous learners.
And parents deserve that same grace.
Let this be the year we model love not only outwardly, but inwardly, too.
Warm regards,
Millie & Melissa
The Sproutly Team
New here? Join Our Newsletter
