The festivities are all done (for the moment!) and with that the holidays. The past two months have been peppered with breaks every few days – Navratri, Dussehra, and the Diwali break have ensured kids have had a number of days away from school. But what goes up must come down. So the late nights and food indulgence comes to an end and real life begins – again. The kids are back in school and are just not happy about it.  To add to their woes, the temperature in Delhi has dropped bringing with it chilly mornings and perfect bed weather!
With holiday breaks and lots of festive indulgences, kids can have serious post festive withdrawal syndrome. Who wouldn’t? But there are ways to tackle it and here are few important ones to remember.
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How to help kids with post holiday blues
- Listen to your kids, don’t dismiss their feelings: They will whine and crib about being made to go to school every day instead of being allowed to light a few more sparklers. Listen to them and acknowledge their feelings. I try telling my kids a funny story about how I would feel the same way when I was younger and how my mom would drag me out of bed. This not just lightens the mood but sets the tone for the entire day.
- Plan something special:Â So what if the festival season is over? Doesn’t mean you can’t do something exciting! Give your children something to look forward to. I usually plan something I know will get my kids excited during the week – like visiting cousins or a playdate with someone they haven’t seen in a while. This special something takes focus and knowing they have something special to do over the next few days helps beat those blues.
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- Get back on routine:Â Children thrive on routine. As much as they like playing truant, they are all creatures of habit. While on holiday they tend to sleep later at night and wake up late too. So two nights before the end of their break, I start getting them to sleep earlier and wake them up earlier too. By the time break is over, they are back on track.
- Exercise:Â Kids can fall into a real funk when festive break is about to get over. Nothing beats the blues like exercise does! After all those mithais and namkeens it is time for kids to clean up their act. The indulgence party is over. Switch to some healthy eating. The kids and I actually flip through their cooking books or go online and find recipes that are kid friendly, healthy and fun. They also need their daily dose of running around in the park. When they get some exercise the endorphins kick in and that’s an instant mood lifter.
- Plan your week ahead with them: Ask your kids what they are looking forward to the most when school reopens, who they would like to meet and even what they would like in their lunch boxes. They might be missing all the things they did over the break, but tell them it will be even more fun when they compare notes with friends in school!
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The post-holidays blues are normally transient. However, if your child seems withdrawn and listless or tends to skip activities that they normally enjoy even after two weeks, then consult your physician.
Image Source:Â Mindfulness and Presence in Communication
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KSP Team
Mansi Zaveri
