WINTER BLUES?

With the excitement of the holiday season coming to a close, you may notice the post-holiday blues beginning to settle in.  Weeks of holiday planning and preparation, parties and family entertaining, shopping and gift giving can lead to January and subsequent winter months feeling dreary, empty, and lonely.  Children are not immune to these same feelings as they struggle to resume their regular routine. 
So what can you do to help your child combat the winter blues? 

~ Let your child express their disappointment and/or sadness and empathize 
          with their feelings.       

~ Share your own feelings, experiences, and memories about feeling sad after the

 holidays.

~ Life may have resumed its busy schedule, but make sure you structure

family time together.  Play those board games they received as

Christmas gifts! Find time for a movie night complete with popcorn!

Plan ahead so the children have something for which to look forward too. 

~ The often frigid outside temperatures of the winter months can force children

          to remain inside.  Create fun, physical activities that help children release 

          excess energy.  A parent/child jumping jack competition?  Yoga animal 

          poses?

~ Help them to focus on the positives.  What do they love about winter?   

         What are they thankful for when it is cold and dreary outside?

~ Maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Children do best when there are

        consistent routines, expectations, and schedules.   

The post holiday blues may feel intense, but tend to be short lived.  If your child’s mood and behavior remain persistent, begin to affect school, social activities, interests, appetite, and familial relationships, he or she may need some additional support.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to Crossroads Family Counseling in order to determine how your child’s need can best be met. 

FAMILY FUN ACTIVITY:   Watch a Family Movie at Home

Why spend a small fortune taking the families to the movies when you can stay at home for an even better theater experience? Host an unforgettable family movie night that's more than a couple of hours sitting on the couch together. Let the kids create movie tickets, make snacks and open their own concession stand. After the movie's over, let their inner critics write movie reviews. Winter Fun for Kids-12 Activities to Beat the Cabin Fever Blues, By Apryl Duncan, About.com Guide

The staff at Crossroads would like to wish you each of you a joyful 2013!!!!!!

Darah Curran is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the State of Virginia with 15 years experience working with children, adolescents and families. Darah has provided support for pediatric and adult individuals and families in outpatient and inpatient medical settings. Her areas of focus include adjustment and behavioral issues, social skills development, chronic illness, grief and trauma work. Darah believes in the strength of the family and encourages each member's involvement in making positive change for the child or family system.