How to Help Your Kids Through the Post-Holiday Blues
From October to January 1st our littles are bombarded with holiday fun—Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s... That means a lot of festivities, extra attention, mountains of presents, sweet treats, late nights, relaxed schedules, and time off from school. Our everyday lives get turned upside down a bit, but come January 2nd, when they get flipped rightside up again, it can leave our kiddos (and us too a bit) feeling bummed.
As we return to our regular, pre-holiday lives, the decrease in excitement can affect our littles’ moods, causing disappointment and what I like to call, the post-holiday blues. (It’s pretty similar to what happens when they have screen-time meltdowns; their brains are buzzing and suddenly the dopamine, or stimulation, is cut off and they crash.) You might notice your kids:
Want to keep the holiday decorations up, and might throw a tantrum when things get packed up
Get more agitated or easily upset over seemingly little things; or they might seem less interested in things they liked before
Don’t want to get up for school in the morning and keeping a regular schedule becomes more difficult
Have a change in their sleep patterns; they might start waking up through the night again or aren’t going down for their naps as easily as they used to
But don’t worry, there are strategies to help your littles overcome the feeling of the post-holiday letdown. Here are five ways to help them cope and ease back into the familiar flow of everyday life.
Talk It Out
If you notice your littles aren’t quite themselves, give them the chance to talk about their feelings. Show them that you’re there to listen and let them know that you understand. I think it’s so important to be open and honest with our littles; it lays a solid and very important foundation for healthy communication.
Plan Some Fun Activities
Going back to everyday life doesn’t have to mean the end of all fun. Sit down with your kids and plan some events or winter activities for them to look forward to—maybe a movie night, trip to get ice cream, or morning hike. (Nature can be a huge mood-booster, for littles and for us!) These little things will help keep your family connected, which is a big part of the ‘high’ of the holidays, and also give your littles a few things to look forward to once things get back to normal.
Donate and Appreciate
A great way to pull your little out of the post-holiday blues is to help them focus on things outside of them. Have them right thank you notes to the loved ones who gave them gifts (if they’re too young to write, have them draw a picture or even just scribble on paper); this helps them practice gratitude, which can help them feel happier all year long. You can take things a step further and donate some of their older toys or clothes that no longer fit, and teach them about the importance of appreciating what they have and caring for others.
Get Back Into Your Regular Schedule
It’s easy to let a holiday break completely throw off your family’s schedule and your littles’ sleep routines. (If you want tips for keeping their sleep schedules during the holidays, read this.) All the excitement and celebrations can mean later bedtimes. Easing back into your regular routine ASAP will save you stress and headaches once school (or work for you) starts back up and you have to get back to your regular routine. Start paying attention to bedtimes, nap times, and feeding times now to help them ease back into their normal everyday routines.
Reintroduce ‘School Work’ and Quiet Time
Part of getting your littles back into their normal routines, may include getting them back into doing ‘homework’ or other quiet time activities like working on puzzles, coloring, or reading (depending on their ages and what makes sense).
This works for babies too. If your little hasn’t been napping during the day because of all the holiday commotion, keeping time set aside for quiet time is important; it can help them settle down and get used to those naps again.
If naps and sleep schedules prove to be a big issue coming out of the holidays, we’re here to help! Schedule a free 15-minute sleep consultation and let’s get your little sleeping through the night again!