Staying Healthy and Happy During the Holidays

Being Well During the Holiday Season!

There is no question about it—the school year can be one of the busiest times of the year for both you and your little one. Additionally, during the pandemic, little ones were impacted in many ways that are just now being revealed. Studies have now shown that there are many negative indirect effects of the pandemic, including significant social isolation, struggles with mental health, and poor diet. So, whether you’re participating in in-person learning, online preschool, or another version of schooling, both you and your little one deserve a break. The holiday season can be a wonderful time to hit the “reset” button and refocus on mental and physical health while enjoying the holiday festivities! 

There are a lot of ways you can keep your little one engaged with their own well-being over the holiday season, both mentally and physically. Physical wellness has been shown to have a significant amount of benefits for little ones! By being physically active, your little one will be able to strengthen those developing muscles and bones and reduce their risk of developing cancer or other physical health issues. Additionally, being physically active can also yield mental health benefits, too. Researchers indicate that little ones who are physically active are able to build confidence, manage their anxiety, and increase cognitive skills. There are so many ways you and your little one can be physically active together too, so it’s a great opportunity for the two of you to bond! Try going for lots of walks or bike (or trike) rides, search up fun dance or movement videos (or take a Playgarden Online Movement class with Miss Katryna, or Hip-Hop with Miss Sam!) online for colder days where you’d like to stay inside, or find festive movement activities like sledding or ice skating.

Nutrition during the holidays is important, too! All food can fit into a healthy and balanced diet, so the trick is always to add rather than take away your little one’s holiday favorites. By encouraging them to take part in the creation of a balanced diet, you can ensure that your little one understands the importance of both physical and mental hunger needs. A good trick for this is to let your little one snack on some of their yummy holiday favorites, but to add in some other foods that will allow them to get the necessary nutrients they need. For example, if they’d like a cookie, offer them a piece or even a full cookie and accompany it with some tasty peppers for fiber or yummy roasted chickpeas for protein, too. You can help your little one build a positive relationship with all foods!

Finally, equally important to your little one’s physical wellness is their mental wellness. We know that you might feel busy and anxious during the school year, and your little one most likely feels the same. During the holiday break is a fantastic time to check in with your little one about how they are feeling and to encourage them to share their feelings from the past months or even weeks. You can also really encourage your little one to take time away from the screen, especially if they participate in online preschool that has them using technology a lot. Remind them of the importance of person to person communication, contact, and fun! 

The school year is stressful, so it’s a great idea to make sure that during even the busiest moments of the holiday season, you and your little one are able to share quality time together and for you to be the best example you can be to your little one for taking care of their mental and physical well-being.

Try Our Online Preschool for FREE! Playgarden Prep offers numerous educational videos from real teachers, and numerous DIY projects that support early learning and development.