Schools
Gwinnett County Public Schools: A Toolkit For Families: Tips For A Healthy And Relaxing Break
Read the latest announcement from Gwinnett County Public Schools.
12.13.21
GCPS school social workers have gathered these tips to help families have a healthy and happy Winter Break and return to school in January relaxed and refreshed.
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Maintain Routines
During the holiday season, it’s easy to slip into habits that are hard to break later.
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When you can, keep times for going to bed and waking up similar to when school is in session. You’ll find the end of Winter Break and the return to school will be easier for everyone if your family sticks to the routine.
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Maintain expectations around the house. A break from school doesn’t have to be a vacation from family responsibilities. When it comes to your child’s assigned household chores—walking the dog, making the bed, or taking out the trash—try to be consistent.
Practice Healthy Habits
Keep up healthy routines, even when the kids have time away from school.
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Rest and relax. You may be tempted to go non-stop during the break, making up for missed opportunities by cramming in extra outings and activities. Resist the temptation and instead select just a few activities to enjoy together. Your time will be more relaxed, and you won’t end the break suffering from holiday burnout.
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Balance holiday treats with healthy fare (and don’t forget the water). Practice moderation when it comes to treats and rich foods. Maintaining a healthy diet is a key to good health year-round. The same holds true for keeping hydrated. Remember that air inside may be drier during the winter months so keeping up with your water intake is important.
Stay active. Grab a coat and gloves and spend time outside with the family.
Limit screen time for both kids and adults. Take time during the break to reconnect with family and friends without devices or TV…read together, play outside, take family walks, enjoy a game of cards or a board game, or make a puzzle.
Help keep yourself, your family, and others safe and healthy. The CDC recommends that families observe a number of steps to help slow transmission of COVID-19, especially as variants add uncertainty to the mix. The best protection—for yourself and others—will be a combination of strategies, including getting a COVID-19 vaccine (and booster when eligible) for those in the household who are age 5 or older, wearing a mask indoors, maintaining distance from others who don’t live with you, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces, staying home when ill, testing to prevent the spread to others, and washing your hands often.
Manage Stress
The holidays can be stressful, especially during these uncertain times. Use coping strategies that allow you and your family enjoy this time together. Here are a few to try:
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Acknowledge and express how you are feeling. Then try to move beyond it.
Slow down. Breathe. Enjoy. Every moment of the break doesn’t have to be planned. Be mindful and present.
Know what you can handle. This often is the season of overdoing. Don’t be afraid to set boundaries. Know how much you can do and say “no” for everything else. If last year’s trimmed-down holiday season was more relaxing for your family, don’t feel pressured to add back a lot of activities.
Practice an “attitude of gratitude.” During dinnertime, have an “I’m thankful for…” conversation with your kids. Have the family contribute “I’m thankful for…” notes to a Gratitude Jar, then read some of the notes when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed. Keep a journal.
Make the Most of Family Time
Enjoy your downtime together during the Winter Break.
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Embrace new traditions and revisit old ones. Many families had to skip family traditions last year due to the pandemic. If it’s safe and possible to revisit those traditions this year, go for it, even if you have to make modifications. If you started a new tradition that everyone enjoyed, make plans to do the same this year. If not, create a new tradition!
Enjoy gatherings with friends and family safely. Check out these recommendations from the CDC to help your family celebrate more safely as you gather with family and friends, especially for multi-generational gatherings with unvaccinated family members or those at a higher risk for severe disease.
Have fun together. The rest of the school year, your family may be off pursing different interests and activities, but try to carve out time for family fun together during Winter Break. Get the whole family involved in preparing a special meal. Gather for a story or an afternoon of crafts. What you do is not as important as doing it together!
Monitor Mental and Emotional Health
We’re in our third school year and second holiday season living with a global pandemic. There’s a lot to unpack so it’s important to process your feelings and support your child in unsettled times.
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Feel what you feel (and allow your children to do the same). Maybe you’re having a hard time getting into the spirit of the season. Perhaps you’re grieving the loss of a loved one or your child is acting out because of pandemic-induced stressors in your family life. Mental health professionals remind us that experiencing the stages of grief is part of the healing process. Wherever you are in the process is where you are.
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That said, laughter and joy can be healing. Find ways to remember and honor a lost loved one during the holidays. Plan activities that your family can do together to stay connected.
Seek professional help if needed. If you have concerns about your child’s mental or emotional health, contact health professionals and your child’s school (on school days) for support. Here are additional phone and text hotlines for crisis support.
o Georgia Crisis & Access Line (GCAL)—1-800-715-4225
o Nationwide Crisis Hotline—1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
o Nationwide Crisis Text line—741741 (Text)
o Georgia COVID-19 Emotional Support Call/Text Line—1-866-399-8938 (Mon.-Sun., 8 a.m.-11 p.m.)
o Gwinnett Cares (Resource Helpline)—770-995-3339 (Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.)
o United Way 2-1-1—Access services online, by text (text GACOVID19 to 898-211), and on the app (for iPhone or Android.)
Plan for a Great Start to 2022
Help your student get off to a strong start for the second semester.
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Encourage your child to set personal and academic goals for the new semester that are specific and reachable. Help your student to come up with clear and measurable goals, with specific actions planned for each goal. Remind your child to monitor progress toward goals and update plans as needed to stay on target. Celebrate together when you child meets his or her goals, makes progress, or hits benchmarks.
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Share this goal-setting plan with your student:
o My goal is…
o Target completion date for goal:
o Steps to reaching my goal:
o Two things that will help me reach my goal:
o I will know I have reached my goal because:
This press release was produced by Gwinnett County Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
