January 23, 2023

January 23, 2023

5 Ways To Help Your Child Beat The Winter Blues

Winter can be a fun time of year for many, filled with plenty of excitement and fun. However, the lack of sunlight and the chilly temperatures can lower moods, a phenomenon commonly known as the “winter blues”. Luckily, you can help your child beat the winter blues this year by following some simple steps to improve their wellbeing.

In order to help your child cope with the winter blues, there’s one important question we need to first address: what causes the winter blues? These feelings can arise due to a combination of factors. First of all, once the holiday festivities are over, it can be difficult for children to readjust to regular life. In addition, an increased amount of time spent indoors due to cold, wet weather may cause stress or boredom. Sometimes this can even be down to personal preferences; some children may love to cozy up by the fireplace with a good book, while others crave outdoor activities and the heat of the summer sunlight during the cold winter months.

If your child is struggling this winter, read on – we’ve put together some of our favorite tips to combat the winter blues below.

How do you counteract the winter blues?

1. Do some exercise (preferably outdoors)
Exercise is one of the best ways to improve your child’s mood and increase overall wellbeing. If it’s safe to go outside, why not bundle up into warm clothing and go for a nice walk? Not only can you look out for animal tracks in the snow or try to find some snowflakes, but gentle movement can help lift your child’s mood greatly. Getting some fresh air is bound to make everyone in your family feel a bit better, even if it is cold outside.

Of course, sometimes it can be difficult to exercise outdoors during the cold winter months. If this is the case, there are many indoor exercise options as well. You could find some at-home yoga tutorials online (there are many that are child-friendly), or why not learn a fun dance routine together? With the internet at your fingertips, the possibilities are truly endless. This could also be a great family bonding activity, and a nice alternative to watching a movie or another sedentary activity.

2. Listen to some calming music
While your children may groan at the thought of listening to classical music, it can be a really relaxing backdrop when reading a book or just hanging out together on a wintry day. There are also lots of relaxing soundtracks out there that are more modern and stray away from typical classical music. A simple search on YouTube or Spotify (or wherever you get your music) for relaxing playlists can help you to set a calm, serene mood in your home.

3. Play board games together
Board games are a fantastic way to combat the winter blues as a family. Rather than passive entertainment, board games are stimulating and exciting. They allow everyone to use their brains and connect in a fun, stimulating way. Depending on the age of your children, you could pick a game that takes a while to play (such as Monopoly), which you could even dip in and out of over the course of a few days if you wish.

Alternatively, you could go back to basics with a jigsaw puzzle, an old family favorite. Card games can also be a fun and easy-to-transport option, if you happen to be spending winter away from your usual home comforts, or if you’re on the move. Why not combine this tip with the next one, and host a board game evening?

4. Socialize!
To stave off cabin fever or feelings of isolation for your children, why not get them out for a meal or a fun activity such as a movie with friends? Alternatively, if going out is not an appealing option, perhaps you could invite over some friends for a dinner party. Sometimes, just having a playdate or meet-up organized in the future can be all that is needed to help your child beat the winter blues. We all like having a fun event or get-together to look forward to!

5. Get crafty
Again, the internet is truly a blessing for this activity. There are countless projects you can do at home with your child, and many free tutorials can be found online. You could try painting or learning to knit (start with a simple stitch and a simple pattern – a scarf, perhaps).

If arts and crafts aren’t really your thing, there are so many other fun and creative indoor activities to do together, such as simple scientific experiments or games like hide and seek.

Can kids have seasonal affective disorder?
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD, for short) is a condition that affects the sufferer during the winter months every year. As Little Harvard states: “SAD is a form of depression that follows a predictable course. Symptoms emerge in the fall and decline in the spring. While SAD is more common among adults, researchers suggest that children and adolescents can suffer too. Like depression, SAD ranges from mild to moderate or severe episodes.”

Research on how SAD affects children, in particular, is still ongoing, but the signs you can check for during the winter months include:

  • Increased mood swings
  • Changes to appetite
  • Problems concentrating or focusing
  • Tiredness or lack of energy
  • Frequent crying episodes

While there are many ways to help your child beat the winter blues as discussed above, it may also be worth speaking to your family physician if you’re concerned about any of these symptoms.

 

Featured image by Annie Spratt on Unsplash