GCPS school social workers have gathered these tips to help families navigate Winter Break during this unusual year… from creating new traditions to maintaining routines so the return to school will be smoother.
Maintaining Routines
During a holiday break, it’s easy to slip into habits that are hard to break later.
Try to keep bedtimes and wake times similar to when school is in session to make the end of Winter Break and the return to school easier on everyone.
Maintain expectations around the house. A break from school doesn’t have to mean a break from responsibilities. Whether it’s having your child take out the garbage, walk the dog, or clean his or her bedroom, try to be consistent.
Practicing Healthy Habits
Time away doesn’t mean a break from healthful routines.
Get rest. It’s tempting to cram everything you can into the break, but take time to rest and relax.
Eat smart, and don’t forget to drink water. Enjoy your holiday treats and rich foods, but in moderation. Just as it’s true during the rest of the year, a healthy diet is a key to good health during the holidays. The same holds true for keeping hydrated, especially during the winter months when air inside may be drier.
Be active. Bundle up and get outside with your family. (Remember, if you have a gathering, holding it outdoors with social distance between households and everyone wearing masks is your best bet.)
Set limits on screen time for the kids (and for the grown-ups). Use your non-screen time to read together, play outside or take family walks, or enjoy a game of cards or make a puzzle.
Continue to do your part to keep yourself, your family, and others healthy. Remember to follow these four important steps… social distancing when feasible, wearing a mask that covers nose and mount, washing your hands, and staying home if you do not feel well or have been exposed to illness.
Coping with Stress
There is no doubt that the holidays can be stressful during a normal year, and this is not a normal year. Use these coping strategies or find others that work for you so that you can enjoy this time with your family.
Acknowledge and express feelings. False cheeriness won’t make you feel better about traditions you can’t observe or missed time with your extended family. Acknowledge the loss and then try to move beyond it.
Be mindful and present. Try to slow down and breathe. Every moment of the break doesn’t have to be planned.
Set boundaries. Know how much you can do and what you can handle. Say “no” for everything else. This year may be a trimmed down celebration and that’s perfectly OK.
Practice gratitude. Keep a journal. Have an “I’m thankful for…” conversation with your kids at dinnertime each evening. Start a Gratitude Jar and have your family add notes about what they are thankful for. When you’re feeling stressed, read some of the notes.
Making the Most of Your Time Together
Winter Break will offer some downtime to enjoy together as a family.
Create new traditions. Whether you modify longtime traditions to suit these unusual times or try something totally new, now’s the time to create special times together, whether it’s a New Year’s Eve Pajama Party or an afternoon making “snowflakes” out of paper bags.
Host a virtual gathering. If a group of friends gathers each year for carols and cider, plan a virtual version via Zoom or Facetime. If your extended family shares a holiday meal, plan a shared menu, share recipes, and “cook together” online. Bring Skype to the table so you can “eat together.”
Cook a nice dinner as a family. Let everyone in your household be part of meal preparations as you cook a special meal together. If you’re baking Auntie’s special cookies or cooking Grandpa’s black-eyed peas, share family stories about loved ones and times together.
Allowing Yourself to Grieve
Whether you are grieving a loved one this holiday season or feeling the loss of connectedness during the pandemic, it’s important to process your feelings.
Allow yourself to feel whatever you feel. Perhaps you’re feeling pressured to display a cheery attitude to match the calendar, or it may seem like you shouldn’t celebrate right now or can’t enjoy the holidays when you or others are grieving. Mental health professionals remind us that experiencing the stages of grief is part of the healing process. Wherever you are in the process is where you are.
However, laughter and joy can help you feel hopeful and more connected to your family. If you are grieving the loss of a loved one, consider ways you can remember and honor that person during the holidays.
Seek professional help if needed.
Ensuring a Strong Start for 2021
Help your student get off to a strong start for 2nd semester.
Encourage your child to set reasonable personal and academic goals for the new semester. Suggest that your student write clear and measurable goals, with a specific action plan for each goal. Regularly reviewing the goals and visualizing successfully accomplishing them can be a boost. Remind your child to monitor his or her progress and revise action plans to stay on target. As goals are met, celebrate accomplishments together.
Share this goal-setting plan with your student:
o My goal is…
o Target completion date for goal:
o Steps to reaching my goal:
o Two things that will help me reach my goal:
o I will know I have reached my goal because:
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