Wellbeing News

Wellbeing on the Holidays

Holidays can take students away from friends and their usual school supports. Changes to routine can cause some young people to feel stressed, isolated and alone. Parent support is very important at this time. Below is some information to help you support young people to stay in a healthy headspace in school holidays. 

There is also some information that may help you to identify when your young person might need some extra support and where to go for help.

1. Encourage them to stay connected: Social relationships are important to your young person’s general wellbeing. It is okay if they take time out for themselves at times, but encourage them to keep in contact with friends over the holidays. Friends can provide both play and support, and spending time with friends is also important for keeping and building on existing friendships. If your young person is not feeling up to going out, even a phone call, email, text message can help them to feel connected to friends and family.

2. Encourage them to stay involved: Encourage involvement with hobbies, clubs or sports – these can help young people feel connected to their wider community. Participate with them when you can. Involve them in decisions and give them responsibility at home (e.g. deciding what to eat for dinner and helping to prepare it). 

   Wyndham City council has a range of school holiday activities on offer. https://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/school-holidays-in-wyndham 

3. Encourage physical activity: Physical activity is important for everyone’s health and wellbeing. If your young person is feeling down or finding things are difficult, physical activity may be the last thing they feel like doing. But even small activities, like walking around the block, can help relieve stress and frustration, provide a good distraction from worrying thoughts, improve concentration and improve mood. If your young person is struggling to get active, find a physical activity that you both enjoy and can do together (e.g. swimming, playing sports with friends or cycling) and make a plan to do it regularly.
4. Encourage a regular routine: Getting a good night’s sleep helps young people to feel energised, focused and motivated. Developing a sleeping routine can help. Encourage your child to wake up around the same time each day, get out of bed when they wake up, and go to bed around the same time each night. Having a quiet, dark and uncluttered bedroom and shutting down electronic devices before bed can also help them to get a good night’s sleep.
5. Encourage healthy eating habits: Eating well doesn’t only reduce the risk of physical health problems, like heart disease and diabetes, but it can also help with sleeping patterns, energy levels, mood, and general health and wellbeing. A good balanced diet with less junk food/ lots of sugars and more vegies, fruit, whole grains and plenty of water will ensure your young person has all of the vitamins and minerals to help their body and brain function well.
6. Encourage play!: Devoting time to just having fun can help to recharge your young person’s battery, revitalise their social networks and reduce stress and anxiety.