Winter Blues: They Impact Kids Too

Now that we’ve packed the holiday decorations away and swept up the confetti from ringing in 2023, we’re faced with the cold winter days ahead. Many of us deal with some form of winter blues this time of year, including our kids.

Signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder in Kids

Because the days are shorter and the cold weather keeps us indoors more often, the littles in our lives aren’t getting as much sunlight. This can lead to them feeling out of sorts. You might notice the following signs of the winter blues in your kids: they’re more irritable, sleeping longer, have less energy, or aren’t enjoying the things they normally love.

Tips for Helping Kids Bust the Winter Blues

Seasons come and go, and winter will soon enough turn into spring but in the meantime, you can help create some sunshine for your family. If you’re able, bundle up and go outside for a walk. If there’s snow, build a snowman or have a snowball fight. If your local playgrounds are open, meet some friends and have some fun climbing around. This helps them soak in some sunlight and get their blood flowing. Of course, going outside isn’t always doable so you could take the kids to your gym or local community center to be active.

It's important to also address the emotional side of these winter blues by encouraging your children to talk about their feelings. Incorporate time at the dinner table or on the way to or from school to ask how they’re doing. If they’re not chatty, suggest writing their feelings down in a journal. These are great practices year-round to get kids comfortable with expressing their feelings in a healthy way.

It may be cold outside, but there’s still plenty of warmth to go around and we hope your family is able to enjoy the beauty and fun this time of year has to offer.