Short days and long nights. Heavy coats and soggy mittens. Another cold day cooped up inside. The chaos of the holidays bleeds into a residual letdown as we try to help our little ones re-establish some semblance of routine. January threatens to bring with it a dreaded case of the Winter Blahs! The good news is, the Winter Blahs are beatable, and Heartland Academy can help! With familiar routines, friendly faces, creativity, and movement, together we can kiss those Blahs goodbye and start enjoying the gift of winter. In this article, you’ll learn how to spot the signs in your little one and be equipped to keep those blahs at bay!
Symptoms of the Blahs
As you can probably tell, “winter blahs” is not a technical term, and it doesn’t really look like its grown-up counterpart: Seasonal Affect Disorder. Instead, if your toddler or preschooler is experiencing the Blahs, you may notice them exhibiting some of the following:
- Extra meltdowns
- Low energy or restlessness
- Trouble focusing
- Increased Clinginess
It’s no wonder our little ones are struggling. Research shows that decreased sunlight and outdoor play, along with disrupted routines, really takes a toll on young children. But there are many ways we can help meet our children’s needs during this dark season, while also responding to their “symptoms” with empathy. I’m sure it wouldn’t be too hard to give your kiddo a big hug and say, “Me too, buddy! I sure do miss the sun!” Then you are ready to collaborate on some fun ways to embrace what the season has to offer.
How to beat the Blahs
1. Get Moving!
One of the most important ways to beat the winter blahs is to get moving, even when it’s cold out. Cold weather has a way of slowing us down. Sometimes, it’s really wonderful to embrace the natural rest Winter seems to be inviting us into. More on that later. But little bodies need to move!! It’s important to get children outside, even when it’s cold. Nothing beats the Blahs like sunlight – even from behind a cloud – mixed with a little fresh air. So bundle your kids up and let them run and play in the yard. Take a nature walk and collect pinecones for a craft back at the house. Observe the birds and scatter birdseed. If it’s snowing, build a snowman, go sledding, or make snow cream. You won’t regret it!
Indoor play can also be active without being chaotic or disruptive. Even 15 minutes of a dance party or running through an obstacle course will help tire out young kids. Building, or rebuilding, the obstacle course can take even longer and is a great work out for bodies and imaginations! Kid Yoga is another wonderful way to exercise little bodies and minds. As children seek to accomplish and hold different poses, they will have fun, get exercise, and gain focus. This is a much calmer way of accomplishing indoor movement, and is good for moms and dads, too! At Heartland, we offer many opportunities for indoor and outdoor play to keep your kid stimulated throughout every season.
2. Brighten the Environment
It’s no secret that light dispels darkness, so finding ways to brighten your environment during the dark winter months is essential! At home, this may mean opening all the window blinds to let in natural light, turning on extra lights in the house, or decorating your home with pops of color to brighten dull days. Another great way to brighten the environment is by rotating your child’s toys. This helps keep their interest alive. By limiting what books or toys are available to them each week, play items feel new and become more appealing, holding their attention longer. At Heartland, we love organizing our weeks around a theme. You can do this at home as well by clustering like books and toys, even movies, together. Popular themes with preschoolers include animals, dinosaurs, and outer space. Having an occasional weekly theme gives them something to look forward to and helps them organize information as they learn.
3. Create Winter Joy
The key word here is “create!” Children process their emotions best through open-ended play, so providing opportunities for them to be creative and expressive is a fantastic way to send those winter blahs away. Which of the following activities sparks your interest? Which ones do you think your children would get excited about?
1. Make a sensory bin with rice, snow, and other objects 
2. Provide items for pretend play (think winter animals, cozy cabins, and coffee shops)
3. Simple science experiments like melting ice
4. Create crafts with recycled objects that are more about the process than the product. Grab some cotton balls, paint, paper, toilet paper tubes, recycled food containers, scraps of paper or fabric, and let your kids explore winter with their imaginations.
5. Make birdseed ornaments for the winter birds.
4. Cozy Up 
At the end of the day, everyone loves embracing the cold by bundling up in a cozy blanket, by a warm fire, cuddled up with the ones we love. As much as we all need light and movement during our winter days, the longer nights are an invitation for deeper rest and connection. Preschoolers love the opportunity to slow down and spend extra snuggle time with Mom and Dad. You and your child can choose how you want to spend those sweet hours of close connection. Perhaps you will enjoy a good book together, take in a movie, or work on a puzzle. Creating warm meals or treats in the kitchen and sharing them together at the family table or by a warm fire is another great way to embrace the comfort, connection and simple joys of the season.
Bye Bye Blahs, Hello Winter Fun!
So there you have it! Winter doesn’t have to seem like an endless night waiting for the light of spring. Whether your child is at Heartland or at home, they can learn to find and experience the unique delights Winter has to offer as they get outside and play in the brisk air, get creative with indoor play, and enjoy the rest and connection of longer winter nights. Winter doesn’t mean pushing pause on learning or fun, it’s an opportunity to try something new. So say goodbye to those Winter Blahs, and hello to Winter Fun!