Get a Fresh Start for the New Year With This Tween Self-Care Routine Checklist

Key Takeaways:

• The new year is a natural opportunity for tweens to build simple, empowering self-care routines that boost confidence and independence.
• Consistent daily habits help tweens feel steady and proud as they navigate a rapidly changing stage of life.
• Tween self-care goes beyond hygiene, including emotional, physical, and personal expression practices that help them understand what makes them feel good.
• A gentle, easy-to-follow hygiene and self-care routine (including period prep) helps tweens and teens feel comfortable, capable, and confident in their growing bodies.

There’s something about a new year that feels like a fresh notebook — a clean start, full of possibilities. For tweens, it’s also a chance to settle into habits that make them feel confident, independent, and totally in control of their own space and body. That’s where self-care comes in. And not the spa-day version, but real-life, everyday moments that build self-trust and comfort.

If you’re parenting a tween, the start of the year is a great time to help them create a realistic, empowering self-care checklist for teens and tweens. These routines don’t have to be complicated. In fact, simple is best. The goal? Help your loved one feel good, inside and out.

Ditch Resolutions, Embrace Routines

Big goals can be exciting, but let’s be real. Resolutions don’t always stick. A solid routine, though? That’s where the magic happens. When tweens learn how to take care of themselves in small, repeatable ways, it helps them feel steady during a stage of life that’s anything but.

Whether it’s brushing their teeth without being reminded or remembering to pack a spare deodorant and a pad “just in case,” even little routines build a sense of pride. Think of a good hygiene routine for teens and tweens like training wheels for confidence; it gives them support while they figure things out on their own.

What Counts as Tween Self-Care?

A lot more than just washing up. Yes, personal hygiene is part of it (more on that in a sec), but so is journaling to sort out feelings, setting a calming bedtime routine, staying hydrated, moving their body, and even picking out clothes that make them feel like themselves.

Encourage them to personalize their routine. Maybe your tween loves mood lighting and lo-fi beats at night or needs a moment of quiet before school in the morning. There’s no one right way to do tween self-care, and that’s kind of the point. It’s about learning what works for them.

The Confidence-Boosting Routine for Personal Hygiene for Teens and Tweens

Here’s a gentle, no-pressure routine to help tweens feel fresh, clean, and ready to take on the day. The trick? Make it easy and consistent.

Morning:

• Quick face rinse or gentle cleanser
• Brush teeth
• Fresh underwear (pro tip: keep extras in their drawer for easy swaps)
• Period care if needed — grab a pad or change into Ruby Love Teen Period Underwear

Evening:

• Wash face or shower
• Change into comfy pajamas
• Fresh undies or overnight period protection
• Maybe a little screen-free time or journaling to wind down

That’s it. Nothing over the top, just solid steps that add up. And if your tween’s period is part of the equation, products like Ruby Love’s period-proof underwear make things way less stressful for them and for you.

Why It All Matters

Self-care isn’t just about staying clean. It’s about showing up for yourself, day after day. For tweens and teens, who are navigating changing bodies, moods, and social situations, feeling comfortable in their own skin makes a huge difference. When they know how to care for themselves, they carry that confidence into school, friendships, sports, and everything else that comes their way.

So, this year, skip the “new year, new me” pressure. Help your tween build a routine that makes them feel strong, supported, and totally capable.

A Simple Self-Care Checklist for Tweens

Morning Moves:
☐ Wash face
☐ Brush teeth
☐ Change into fresh underwear 
☐ Pack period essentials if needed

Nighttime Wind-Down:
☐ Shower or wash face
☐ Put on comfy PJs
☐ Change into fresh underwear or overnight period protection
☐ Incorporate screen-free time or journaling

Feel-Good Extras:
☐ Drink water
☐ Stretch or move your body
☐ Listen to music
☐ Talk it out with someone you trust

Monthly Period Prep:
☐ Restock pads or period underwear
☐ Add supplies to your bag or locker
☐ Track your cycle (if you want)
☐ Pick out your coziest period outfit

Need comfy, easy-to-use period care that your tween or teen can manage on their own? Ruby Love’s got you. From leak-proof briefs to overnight protection, our products are designed for comfort and peace of mind, so your tween can focus on being their amazing self.