3 Tips for Helping Kids this Holiday Season

How often do you hear, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year '' during the holiday season? On the radio, at work, or from our closest friends, this sentiment is all around. Some people like to describe this time of year as “merry and bright”, but if you’re like me living in Chicago, it actually feels pretty cold and dark (keep an eye out for snowstorms!). It’s important for us to recognize that for many people the holiday season is not always the most wonderful time of the year. Simply put, the dialectic - the holiday season is joyful AND the holiday season is difficult - is important to keep in mind as we interact with family and friends.

The holiday season can be characterized by family and togetherness, and, dialectically, aloneness and strain, both of which have been heightened by COVID-19. Nearly 64% of people with mental health challenges say that the holiday season makes them feel worse. This is not exclusive to adults, young people feel this way, too. 

So, how can we take care of ourselves and others during this time to come out of the holiday season as our best selves? 

3 Tips for Helping Children and Teens this Holiday Season

Make Room for All the Feels

During the holiday season, we often expect kids and teens (and ourselves) to feel “happy.” Yet, it’s okay if we’re not feeling the holiday joy. We can feel happy and sad simultaneously… and it’s important that we practice self-compassion to give ourselves the freedom to feel anything. Most people feel a wide range of emotions during the holiday season. Give your child and yourself space to feel it all and take care of your emotions. This can look like non-judgmentally acknowledging and validating feelings, allowing time for emotions to be experienced, and accepting them when they can’t always be changed.

Consider Consistency

For some, the holiday season is all about rescheduling this and canceling that. Frequent schedule changes, especially for our young folks with ADHD, can be stressful. What is our holiday motto? Eat, sleep, hydrate, repeat. We may not have control over many aspects of the holiday schedule, but you can strive for a full water bottle and a reasonable bedtime. Consider setting up a pre-holiday plan with your child that includes a clear bedtime window (consistency can include flexibility) and a morning check-in. 

Connect Differently

While the holiday season can look like spending too much time with others and not enough “me” time, it can also look very lonely. Many families have experienced loss over the past few years. And even if you are surrounded by others, the holidays may bring up feelings of loneliness. What is helpful? Prioritize the most important relationships in your life, seek out volunteer opportunities, connect with virtual friends, take time to acknowledge and remember important individuals that have been lost, engage in traditions, and make new traditions. Connection can take many different forms, but what’s important is that it is meaningful to you.

Written by University of Chicago Advanced Clinical Trainee, Naomi Kaplan.

Looking for support this holiday season, reach out to us at hello@mindchicago.com.