How to Keep a Child Happy Indoors During the Winter

Seasonal depression is a serious condition not only in adults but in children too. After a summer spent playing outside, children can get depressed cooped up inside. With little room for exercise, running and playing,their pent up frustration can cause negative emotions and behavior. These include unexplained temper tantrums, aggression, irritability, general malaise and loss of appetite.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Child board games and books
• A designated space for the child to let loose

1. Develop a routine every day, but allow some flexibility. This will give them something to look forward to every day. For example: wake up, breakfast, get dressed, read a story, art project and then free play before lunch.
2. Take the child or children on a surprise trip once a week to some place fun. Try indoor play lands, children's museums, the library, roller-skating or even the mall. Get online and research different opportunities in your area.
3. Banish the "indoor voice" only rule and allow flexibility for running and loud play at some point during the day. Or designate a place for this behavior either in their playroom or bedroom.
4. Include them in your daily chores. When they have responsibility and contribute to the family it will make them feel better about themselves. This doesn’t have to be major work; maybe let them help fold the laundry, take out the garbage or give them a basket and have them go through the house collecting toys.
5. Take on a philanthropic project together. Collect things from around the house for local charities or food drives.
6. Designate family game night(s). Even small children can play some games such as Shoots and Ladders or Candyland. Be creative and come up with your own games. For example find a “magic” wand and “turn” each child into an animal and have them act out their role.
7. Be silly and get down and play with them. Nothing makes children more happy than playing with their parent. Have a tea party with them or play their favorite video game.
8. Make sure schedule exercise every day. Put on some fun kid music and dance with them for a half an hour or so. This will make everyone happy and healthy.
9. Bundle them up and get them outside. They won’t melt in the snow and should play outdoors for at least 20 minutes every day.

Tips & Warnings

• It’s easy to let them watch a lot of television in the winter or during Christmas break, but resist. This can turn into a bad habit quickly. Make the television a special treat maybe for one or two shows a day.
• Eat dinner together every night and talk. This is the best way to tell how they are feeling and if they may be suffering from seasonal depression.