Your house looks like a toy store explosion inside a wrapping paper factory. In between cartoon marathons and stealthy candy-cane binges, your cooped-up kids shriek, “I’m bored!” at top volume. Your holiday decorations (and your sanity) hang by a thread. Sound familiar? You may be suffering from Winter Break Blues.
Brought on by an extended school break smack-dab in the middle of the coldest, darkest season, Winter Break Blues can strike even the most organized and calmest of parents during the post-holiday haze. Symptoms include sudden bouts of indecipherable yelling, empty parental threats (“All your presents are going in the trash, and I mean it!”), a frenzied burst of cleaning activity involving equal parts toy shoveling and sobbing, and a desire to bust out of the front door without opening it.
Before locking yourself in the bathroom with a picked-over tin of Christmas cookies, take heart: winter break is unavoidable, but it doesn’t have to be awful. When the blues strike, swift action can help brighten the bleakest winter break prognosis, and yield some fun in the process.
Energy burn. When the kids are bouncing off the walls, load them in the car and beat a path to the nearest bounce house or indoor kids’ gym (bonus points if coffee is served for winter-weary parents). Yes, it will likely be overcrowded and germ-ridden, but in this case, the pros (happy, occupied children) outweigh the potential cons. And a little extra hand-washing never hurt anyone.
Gym escape. Even better than an indoor play space? A gym with childcare. Just imagine: Your children can play happily while you burn off winter stress with a fitness class or treadmill session - or simply enjoy a smoothie, free Wi-Fi and a comfy chair. Either way, everyone leaves happier, if not a little healthier.
Opposites attract. Break out of a mid-winter rut with a daycation, at home. If you live in a warm climate, treat kids to a snow day with a tub of artificial snow (purchased at your nearest dollar store), paired with some small toys for sensory play. Had enough snow? Dig out your kids’ sand toys and create an indoor tabletop beach with kinetic sand, available at craft stores.
Downsize. A glut of new toys - usually holiday gifts - and the resulting chaotic clutter can bring on symptoms of Winter Break Blues faster than you can say “batteries not included.” Announce an old-toy cleanout (hold new playthings hostage until the cleanup is accomplished, if needed). Set reasonable parameters for the purge; say, all of your child’s toys must fit in the toy box or have space on the shelf. Choose toys to keep, give away and donate. Hint: Blasting upbeat tunes during the cleanup may even trick your kids into thinking they’re having fun.
Drive-thru.Everyone squirrely and it’s miserable out? Drive-thru to the rescue! Load up the kids, pop an audiobook CD - or the Frozen soundtrack - into the stereo, and hit your favorite drive-up coffee stand. Order a round of hot chocolate for everyone. Then take the scenic route home while everyone unwinds.
Gratis gifts.Put that stack of gift cards to good use. Once old toys are cleaned out and donated, round up the brightly-colored slices of plastic and take the brood shopping to snag winter duds on sale or scoop up lunch essentials for when school resumes. Or donate the gift cards to your favorite charity. Clearing the cards off your kitchen counter will help clear your head, and ensure they don’t go to waste (per the Tower Group, around 10 per cent of gift cards go unused each year, totaling $8 billion dollars in lost value).
Holiday redux.You know that ‘holiday bucket list’ you didn’t manage to check off in the busy weeks leading up to Christmas or Hanukkah: perusing your city’s or town’s holiday lights, volunteering at a soup kitchen, delivering fresh-baked treats to neighbors? The post-holiday lull is a great time for traditional seasonal activities; attractions like lights displays and skating rinks are usually still open, but less crowded, and local organizations still need volunteers after the holiday do-gooders head home.
Everyday merry. Even the shiniest new playthings become ho-hum when kids stare at them all day. Quiet the “I’m bored!” chorus and swap out toys for everyday household items. Take a cue from Trish Kuffner, author of The Preschooler’s Busy Book. Set up a ‘beauty parlor’ using makeup brushes, curlers and old cosmetic compacts, or a ‘restaurant’ with kid-designed menus, tablecloths and serving utensils.
Misery loves company. Your friends and their children are probably stir-crazy too. Do what mom of four Christina Kindt does: after the holiday craze dies down, round up some pals and kids for a playdate and re-gift exchange (cocktails for parents optional, but encouraged). With luck, you’ll clear out a few unwanted items and perhaps score something the kids wanted. Winter Break Blues, be gone!
Malia is an award-winning health and parenting journalist, and mom of three. Her latest book is Sleep Tight, Every Night: Helping Toddlers and Preschoolers Sleep Well Without Tears, Tricks, or Tirades.
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