Fall is almost gone! The leaves have changed and the temperature has dropped. We’re gearing up for the winter holiday season and the clocks have gone back an hour. With all these changes, many adults feel it’s hard to adjust to the fall and winter seasons. However, adults aren’t the only ones that experience these difficulties; you may notice that your kids struggle with this as well.
What Causes Seasonal Change to Be Difficult for Children?
It can be difficult to put an exact finger on what makes the time change and season difficult for kids. There are a few obvious things to highlight; such as the change in sleeping schedules which often affects circadian rhythms. This can mean your child is trying to get caught up on sleep which can affect their moods. Additionally, the weather outside is cooler, which means children are likely not spending as much time outside and interacting with their peers. It may even be that all these changes are interfering with their sensory needs and causing an overload (think big puffy coats and itchy hats). There are likely more that we are missing on this list.
Signs Your Child May Struggle with the Season Changing
There are several signs that may stick out regarding kids that are struggling with the season and time change. Some of the biggest signs are: frequent meltdowns or outbursts, especially over small things that normally don’t cause big trouble; withdrawing from friends and social activities; increased anxiety or clinginess to parents; and low energy levels or difficulty waking up in the morning.
The reason these are the most common culprits is because this is how children communicate their feelings with adults. Kids, especially those on the younger end, lack the vocabulary skills to express their feelings using words. You will see it through their actions and interactions instead. As a caregiver, you will want to be attuned to your children to pick up on these signals and make sure that your reaction is not too over the top to manage it.
How Caregivers Can Help
Sometimes the most obvious and simple things are the things that help children navigate these changes the best. You, as a caregiver, can focus on the following areas to ensure that your child is supported through the time change:
Create and maintain a predictable routine- Focus on getting to bed and waking up around the same time daily. If the time change has really knocked things loose, try shifting things by 10-15 minute increments to get to the ideal place within a week.
Focus on getting natural light when possible- If it’s doable, try to get your child outside for 15-20 minutes daily to get natural sunlight. This can look like a walk, playing outside, or simply just sitting together.
Try and address sensory issues before they cause problems- The itchy hat isn’t going to change. You may want to have your child test their winter items before they’re needed, so if something needs to be swapped out, you can do it before it’s a dire situation. For some kids, you may want to have them practice putting the clothes on to make sure they feel comfortable getting dressed themselves.
If you feel that you are doing a lot of these things already with little success, it may be a sign that your child could benefit from seeing a mental health professional. While this can feel daunting, therapists, like the ones that specialize in working with children at Become You Therapy, can help you work as a team to figure out what will work best for your family. It also provides your child an opportunity to process their feelings in a safe environment, which can help them feel ready to navigate the change as well. If you need support or wonder if we’re the right fit for your child, we hope you’ll reach out to us; we’d love to answer your questions.
