Psychological well being suggestions for teenagers, dad and mom throughout faculty trip week

MARIA: SCHOOL VACATION WEEK IS HERE ANDMARIA: THAT MEANS KEEPING KIDS OCCUPIED AND WELL-BEHAVED WHILE THEY’RE OFF THEIR USUAL SCHEDULE. BEN: HERE WITH SOME ADVICE IS DR. ERICA LEE, A CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST AT BOSTON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL. Dr. LEE, ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. WHAT’S THE FIRST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’D GIVE PARENTS ABOUT GETTING THROUGH SCHOOL VACATION WEEK WITHOUT HEADACHES? Dr. LEE: FANTASTIC QUESTION, THE FIRST PIECE OF ADVICE I GIVE IS TO REMEMBER THAT BREAKS CAN BE A LOT OF WORK AND IT’S OK IF YOU FEEL TIRED, FRUSTRATED, OR OVERWHELMED WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE WITH YOU FOR THE MOST OF THE TIME. WHEN YOU ARE USED TO THEM BEING ON A SCHOOL SCHEDULE IT CAN BE OVERWHELMING. TRY NOT TO PUT TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON YOURSELF FOR THE PERFECTLY PLANNED FEBRUARY VACATION WITH SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES. FOR THE PARENTS WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO TAKE ALL THE TIME THEY WOULD LIKE, REMEMBER THAT IF YOUR KIDS ARE SAFE AND HEALTHY AND YOU FIND TIME FOR A CONNECTION, YOU ARE DOING GREAT AS A PARENT. MARIA: I LIKE THAT, WE CAN STOP RIGHT THERE. (LAUGHTER) SOME FAMILIES WILL OBVIOUSLY HEAD OUT OF TOWN THIS WEEK, BUT IF YOU’RE STAYING AT HOME, HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU REALLY SCHEDULE FOR YOUR KIDS? IS THERE SUCH A THING AS TOO MUCH? Dr. LEE: I WOULD SAY YES. MOST KIDS BENEFIT FROM HAVING SOME ROUTINE AND STRUCTURE IN THEIR DAILY LIVES BUT WE KNOW IT’S HARD FOR PARENTS TO BE FULL TIME ACTIVITY PLANNERS DURING BREAKS AND BEING OVERLY SCHEDULED CAN BE TIRING FOR KIDS AND PARENTS. WHAT I SAY TO THEM IS THINK ABOUT WHICH ROUTINES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR ESTABLISHING YOUR DAILY PIECE OF MIND. MAKE SURE YOU ARE CONTINUING THOSE. TRY TO PLAN FUN ACTIVITIES THAT KIDS CAN LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE BREAK AND LEAVE A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME FOR RELAXATION AND SPONTANEITY. MOST IMPORTANTLY, IF IT’S A BREAK, EVERYONE NEEDS TO TAKE A BREAK. ED: NOW I’M GOING TO TOUCH THE THIRD RAIL OF OUR LIVES. MANY PARENTS DON’T WANT TO SEE THEIR KIDS SITTING ON THE COUCH ALL WEEK, WATCHING TV OR PLAYING ON ONE OF THEIR MANY DEVICES. NONSTOP, EVERY MINUTE THEY ARE AWAKE, EVEN ASLEEP ON THIS STUPID THING. IF THEY DO SINK INTO THAT, HOW DO YOU SNAP THEM OUT OF IT? Dr. LEE: MY GO TO RECOMMENDATION IS STRIVING FOR BALANCE. NOT ALL SCREEN TIME IS BAD AND AS I JUST SAID YOU CANNOT ENTERTAIN YOUR CHILDREN 24 HOURS A DAY. YES, IT’S BREAK, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT USUAL SPRINGTIME RULES HAVE TO GO OUT THE WINDOW. MAYBE DON’T USE SCREENS FOR SIX HOURS, TAKE BREAKS, USE THEM, DON’T SKIP MEALS OR FAMILY TIME OR EXERCISE ROUTINES BECAUSE WE WANT TO USE SCREENS. PARENTS, YOU CAN GET AHEAD OF THIS WITH YOUR KIDS. OVER BREAK MAYBE THEY NEED HELP BRAINSTORMING. HERE ARE OPTIONS FOR THINGS YOU CAN DO. IT DOESN’T MAKE YOU A BAD PARENT. MARIA: WONDERFUL. ARE YOU ON SCHOOL BREAK? Dr. LEE: I AM, BUT WE HAVE THE DAY OFF FROM THE HOSPITAL AND BACK IN THE OFFICE TOMORROW. ED: GREAT TO SEE YOU, DR., THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

Psychological well being suggestions for teenagers, dad and mom throughout faculty trip week

Up to date: 5:03 PM EST Feb 20, 2023

Dr. Erica Lee, a psychologist at Boston Youngsters’s Hospital, solutions questions on how households can deal with the disruption that comes with faculty holidays.

BOSTON —

Dr. Erica Lee, a psychologist at Boston Youngsters’s Hospital, solutions questions on how households can deal with the disruption that comes with faculty holidays.