10 Summer Self-Care Activities for Girls (That Go Beyond Bubble Baths)

Self-care is so much more than face masks and bubble baths—especially for tween and teen girls. It’s about helping them understand their emotions, set healthy boundaries, and build habits that support their mental and emotional wellbeing. Summer is the perfect time to introduce meaningful self-care practices that they can carry with them into every season of life.

Key Takeaways

• True self-care teaches girls how to check in with themselves and respond with kindness

• Emotional awareness, healthy routines, and creative expression all count as self-care

• These activities are easy to lead and encourage both independence and connection

• Group leaders can model self-care through conversation and shared experiences

• Building these habits now helps girls build resilience and confidence long-term

1. Feelings Check-In Journal
Give girls a simple emotions chart or emoji wheel. Start each day with a journal prompt like “How am I feeling and why?” and let them write freely.

2. Nature Mindfulness Walk
Take a slow, intentional walk outdoors. Encourage girls to notice five things they see, four they hear, three they feel, two they smell, and one they’re grateful for.

3. Create a Self-Soothing Box
Let girls decorate small boxes and fill them with calming tools like affirmations, sensory items, positive notes, or a list of coping strategies.

4. Technology-Free Hour
Guide the group in taking an intentional break from phones or screens. Use this time for journaling, creative play, or quiet reflection.

5. “What I Need” Cards
Teach girls how to identify and ask for what they need. They can make cards that say things like “I need a break,” “I need support,” or “I need quiet time.”

6. Guided Grounding Practice
Lead a short breathing or visualization exercise to help girls relax and re-center. Use imagery like standing tall like a tree or imagining a calm ocean.

7. Values Collage
Girls choose their top 3 values (like kindness, honesty, creativity) and create a collage representing what they look like in everyday life.

8. Rest Rituals Discussion
Talk about the importance of sleep and rest—not as laziness, but as a vital part of health. Let girls brainstorm and share their favorite ways to unwind.

9. Creative Release Time
Offer open space for painting, writing, music, or dancing. Let it be totally freeform, no rules or expectations. Expression is a powerful self-care tool.

10. My Self-Care Plan Poster
Each girl creates a personalized poster or checklist with self-care ideas that work for her. Include emotional, physical, creative, and social care strategies.

Want more support creating confidence-building experiences this summer? Explore our FearlesslyGiRL Coach Certification and Done For You Program Kits. They're designed to help you lead with ease, create real impact, and empower every girl in your group to shine. Let’s empower a generation of confident, kind, fearless girls—together.