HEALTHY HOLIDAY HABITS

Here are six suggestions for families to help adolescents stay engaged while focusing on maintaining healthy habits during the Christmas holidays:

Set Limits on Social Media Use

Establish screen-free times during meals, family activities, or specific hours of the day. Encourage teens to engage in offline activities like reading, playing board games, or exploring creative hobbies.

Maintain a Balanced Routine

While allowing for some holiday relaxation, encourage a daily schedule that includes consistent wake-up and bedtime routines, meal times, and planned activities. This helps prevent late-night scrolling and ensures they stay productive.

Incorporate Daily Exercise

Plan family walks, bike rides, or outdoor games like frisbee or basketball. Sign them up for fitness challenges or let them try new activities like yoga or dance to make exercise fun and engaging.

Encourage Real-Life Social Connections

Support opportunities for face-to-face interactions by inviting friends or family over for activities like baking, crafting, or holiday games. This reduces reliance on virtual communication and strengthens bonds.

Foster a Tech-Free Hobby

Introduce hobbies like painting, gardening, playing a musical instrument, or cooking. Use the holidays to encourage them to learn something new that doesn’t involve screens.

Promote Mindfulness and Well-Being

Encourage mindfulness practices like journaling, meditation, or gratitude lists to help them reflect and manage stress. Physical activity combined with moments of stillness can create a balanced approach to the holiday season.

These strategies balance fun and structure, ensuring teens enjoy their break while maintaining healthy habits.

Mandy McCallum

Director of Wellbeing