3 Ways to Help Your Kids Deal with Post-Holiday Blues

I’m elementary school assembly presenter Joe Romano. Each year, I perform hundreds of school assemblies in VA, NJ, MD, NY, PA, and Washington DC. For over 30 years, school administrators have raved about my ability to merge education with fun. I also write articles just like this to help busy parents and school administrators.

Why Holidays are Stressful for Children

The holidays are stressful for adults, that’s a given. But what about kids? After all, kids look forward to getting presents, time off from school, and no homework…right? Turns out the holidays stress out kids just like adults.

Kids, in particular, crave routine. As much fun as the holidays can be, messing up daily routines makes many children uncomfortable. Transitioning from one kind of schedule (daily life) to a new one (the holiday break) causes stress.

And don’t forget the people! Many holiday parties include the arrival of long-lost relatives, friends from yesteryear, and other people not around much during the rest of the year. The result? Large groups of people your children don’t know very well if at all. Big groups freak them out!

Helping Your Kids Cope with the Post-Holiday Blues Tip #1: Normal Schedule

Once all of the holiday madness is over, it’s natural for children to feel a letdown. Despite all the stress, there was plenty to look forward to. And once it’s over, your children may feel a sense of emptiness. What do you do?

The first thing to do? Get everyone back on their normal schedules. This means regular bedtimes, mealtimes, and more. Sure, your kids may want to continue to stay up late. But getting back to their normal routines will give them feelings of comfort.

Helping Your Kids Cope with the Post-Holiday Blues Tip #2: Healthy Foods

Yes, all of those holiday foods and goodies are tasty. But they also make us feel bad in the long run. If your family has a relatively healthy diet most days, those rich holiday foods can cause everyone to feel off their game.

It starts with simple carbs and sweets. Mashed potatoes, corn, and starchy foods offer little nutritional value. But they can spike blood sugars only to plummet shortly thereafter. The result? Our energy levels feel out of whack!

The solution is simple. Get your kids back on a regular healthy diet. They’ll feel more comfortable and stable throughout the day. This is miles better than the rapid spikes and drops the unhealthy snacks and treats cause. The better foods are better for their moods, too.

Helping Your Kids Cope with the Post-Holiday Blues Tip #3: Talk About It

Kids are just like adults in one key area. Many of them bottle up their feelings instead of talking about them. We as adults often forget how stressful kids’ lives can be. Pressures at school and to excel can put enormous strain on a child. Add in other possible factors and it’s easy to see being a kid is no picnic.

What does all of this have to do with the holidays? Simple. After the holidays are over, your child has to go back to school. Going back to school after the winter break can bring all kinds of stress back into a child’s life. Do they deal with bullies? Are they struggling with grades? Knowing they have to go back to school fills many kids with a sense of dread.

Sit down with your child. Ask them about their feelings. Are they sad the holidays are over? How do they feel going back to school? Your child may even feel blue…but aren’t sure why they feel that way. Talking through their feelings with them may help them understand what’s going on.

The Perfect Post-Holiday School Assembly?

Want to give your child’s entire school the perfect pick-me-up? My amazing school assembly, “Smile! It’s Magic!” is a great way to give your child’s school something to look forward to and enjoy. I use amazing magic, join-in fun, kid-friendly humor, music, and more to teach your kids self-confidence, good character, and much more. Visit the “Smile! It’s Magic!” webpage for more details.