6 Relaxation Activities That Can Help to Calm Kids During Times of Anxiety
Our experts share relaxation and stress-reducing activities for children. Learn how to help manage anxiety in the wake of an emergency like coronavirus outbreak.
Shorter days combined with waking up on dark mornings can cause some children to experience the winter blues. Spending time outdoors can provide mental health benefits for children.
As summer clothes are packed away and winter coats emerge from storage, the shift in season signals many changes for children. Days will get shorter and shorter. The crisp autumn air will soon turn into blistering cold, taking with it so many of the fun—not to mention low-risk—outdoor activities that provide children and families with a much-needed break from COVID-19 restrictions.
As the pandemic continues to spread globally, children continue to be affected by both the virus itself and the financial, social and emotional impacts.
A recent survey from Save the Children revealed that more than 3 in 4 households have experienced an income loss since the start of the pandemic. Some children across the nation have yet to return to in-person learning. And because coronavirus is disproportionally affecting older adults, many extended families may find themselves celebrating the holidays remotely.
The survey also shows that children have been overwhelmingly affected by negative feelings as a result of the pandemic and the disruption to their lives, including socializing and school. In response to the survey, more than 8 in 10 (83%) of children reported an increase in negative feelings. These feelings, combined with shorter days and waking up on dark mornings, may find some children feeling the "winter blues."
Here’s how our experts recommend helping children prepare for this unprecedented winter.
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