I (and many people I know) begin to prepare for the Fall and Winter seasons as soon as possible! I enjoy the hustle and bustle, food, activities etc that these seasons have to offer. The festivities bring me a different sense of happiness. However, I have learned that the holiday months cause mood changes in many of my clients. These moods range from happiness, guilt, sadness, anger and fear. Many clients state that triggers to their individual moods are affected by smells, decorations, food and finances that are associated with this time of year. Unfortunately, many of our child clients struggle throughout the holiday season due to the reasons mentioned previously. This results in many therapists’ avoidance of holiday activities and discussion with their clients. I feel that therapists should embrace the holidays and adjust their practices according to the child. Therapy can be used to bring joy to our clients while reducing anxiety, depression and negative symptoms. Utilizing seasonal activities will also provide therapists a change of pace, help them not be in the same pattern of activities and bring a positive spin to the mood of the seasons.
October:
Welcome to the scary time of the year! I’ve learned and noticed that my child clients get so PUMPED about Halloween! Seriously—- almost all of them! Anxious ones, angry ones, happy ones, depressed ones- you name it! So as one would expect! It’s time for me to really incorporate some coping skills and lesson learning into this time. Here are a few activities that I have found which are so fun to utilize in the therapeutic process!
Activities:
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Halloween Fun Spider Activity
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The weeks before the winter break are always full of excitement and typically warrant some calming, mindfulness exercises. In my mindful mornings group, I invite all students to attend (we currently have about 7% participation, which I’m really happy about in our first 2 months of existence!), and we begin our day with calming activities that I encourage them to teach to just one peer. To boost engagement, I like to do themed activities around holidays or school events. If you’re looking for some Christmas mindfulness activities or winter-themed activities, keep reading for some ideas!
5 Winter & Christmas Mindfulness Activities
1 – Breathe Like Santa
This is a fun activity that the younger students really enjoy! To help kids practice slow, controlled breathing, take a deep breath in, hold it for a moment, and slowly let it out with a slow, “Ho ho ho.” It feels silly at first, but this really helps kids feel their chests fall as they let the air go.
2 – Hear the Bells
Grab some jingle bells or handbells for an easy listening activity. Ask students to tune in to just the sound of the bells. Notice the vibrations of the sounds. Notice where they feel the bells in their bodies. And notice any feelings that come along with it!
3 – Settle the Snow Globe
Shake up a snow globe and watch it settle! Notice how the snow falls and glides. Notice the slow, gentle movement. Feel your body settle as the snow falls.
4 – Christmas Yoga
Any basic yoga sequence can be winter-themed with a little name change! Tree pose? Make that Christmas tree pose. Mountain pose? Make it a snowy mountain. A fold can be a candy cane pose. Get creative with it!
5 – Mindful Eating
Pick any holiday food for a mindful eating activity! Gingerbread cookies or candy canes are perfect. Encourage students to notice the texture, the taste, and the crunch of the food. Notice where on their tongues they taste each flavor. Enjoy every little bite!
Want more Christmas mindfulness activities?
If you’re looking to spread some merry mindfulness at home or school, check out the 25 days of merry mindfulness!
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This weekend, we put up our Christmas tree and to my surprise my boys decorated most of the tree all by themselves.
It wasn’t all that long ago that I was toddler proofing the tree and this year my boys were safe enough to decorate all but the tippy top of the tree.
A lot changes in a few years, even if it doesn’t feel that way in the moment!
Christmas themed slide deck
As an Occupational Therapist, I work with children in all different ages and stages of development.
I’m always trying to find ways to plan for my teletherapy or in-person sessions in the quickest and easiest ways possible.
When I began creating google slide decks for my teletherapy sessions it completely saved my sanity.
I build them around certain themes and then I can skip slides and re-arrange them to individualize my sessions based on my student’s skills, interests and needs.
No more fumbling through files to find different activities or endless scrolling of the internet needed!
Today, I’m sharing with you a FREE Christmas themed slide deck to use with your students.
This slide deck targets:
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Self-regulation
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Gross Motor skills
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Motor planning
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Auditory processing
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Fine motor skills
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Visual motor skills
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Visual perceptual skills
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Handwriting
If your students or school doesn’t celebrate Christmas, check out this post for some other December themed ideas.
Christmas themed self-regulation activities
Warm-up your sessions by practicing some Christmas tree breathing with your students.
Start at the star and follow the color coded arrows to breathe in for 3 seconds, hold your breath for 3 seconds and then exhale for 3 seconds.
Repeat as many times as necessary to achieve the “just right” alert level at the start, middle or end of your therapy sessions (I like to do this one myself in between therapy sessions!)
or
Flip a coin and practice some Christmas inspired yoga poses to quiet the body and mind (good for therapist and students alike!).
A collection of mental health and education resources themed around the holidays to get kids and teens thinking and talking about mental health, self-care, feelings, family traditions, and more. This bundle includes 15 unique worksheets, 69 printable coloring pages, and 30 conversation starting cards all surrounding holiday themes.
The workbook is regular paper size 8.5 x 11 inches.
You will receive 2 PDF files. One containing the worksheets and conversation cards, and one containing the coloring pages. PDF’s can be helpful as printables or for psycho-education via in person or virtual counselling. This is an instant download. You will not receive anything in the mail. You will get an email with the link to download from Etsy (or you can find the download link in your Etsy orders section on desktop). Open the PDF in Acrobat Reader and print on your home computer or at a copy shop.
This file is for personal or professional use only and cannot be reproduced or resold commercially.
Reading Time:
6
minutes
As you’re doing your Christmas shopping this year, you probably have items in mind for everyone on your list based on their interests, hobbies, and personality types.
For example, the fitness fanatic on your list might get a new piece of workout gear, or the reader in your life might get a gift card to a local bookstore.
One factor to consider when doing your Christmas shopping is whether someone in your life could benefit from mental health gifts.
People who live with mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder may benefit from specific gifts that provide them with stress relief and promote well-being.
Below is a list of Christmas gifts for mental health, so you can show your loved ones your care and support this holiday season.
Have you already picked some lovely mental health gifts for your loved ones?
Why mental health matters this holiday season
If a loved one on your Christmas list lives with a mental health condition, this is a pretty important factor to consider when shopping for them this year.
After all, a survey by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) revealed that 64% of people with mental health disorders feel that the holiday season makes their condition worse.
Factors like financial strain, loneliness, added pressure, and inability to be with loved ones are all illuminated during the holiday season, making this time of year difficult for those with mental health disorders.
So, self-care Christmas gifts can make a significant difference for a person who struggles with mental illness.
Mental health gifts: ideas for everyone on your list
When you’re shopping for someone who lives with a mental health condition, it can be helpful to have a list of ideas in mind.
The self-care gift ideas below can make the holidays calm, merry, and bright for someone in your life who would benefit from mental health support.
1. A massage gift card
A massage gift card is a thoughtful present for anyone in your life who lives with depression. Numerous studies have shown that massage is effective for reducing symptoms of depression.
A few sessions with a massage therapist can improve the well-being of those who struggle with sadness and other symptoms related to depression.
2. Online well-being programs
If you’re looking for a unique and meaningful Christmas gift for your loved one, consider online mental health and well-being programs.
With mental health becoming more of a priority in our daily lives, it’s vital to have access to extra support and care that can help us foster and nurture our mental, physical, and emotional health.
Online well-being programs allow for flexibility, are cost-effective, and can be accessed from virtually anywhere.
For example, you can purchase a special online well-being program from Calmerry as a gift. It includes messaging and video sessions with licensed counselors and unlimited access to a mental health toolbox with a mood tracker, journaling, and the Self-Help Tips Library.
This package can be a good starting point for your loved one on their journey to better well-being and happier life.
3. Merchandise from the Mayfair Group
Founded by a woman whose focus is on “positivity first,” the Mayfair Group aims to provide a safe space and promote acceptance in the digital world.
The brand sells apparel and accessories intended to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. Sweatshirts and tees from the Mayfair Group come in colorful prints and display slogans like, “Boundaries Are Hot!” and “Take Me as I Am.”
4. A weighted blanket
Weighted blankets are among the top gifts for someone with anxiety and depression. A recent study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that sleeping with a weighted blanket improved symptoms of insomnia in people with mental health conditions, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- ADHD
- And bipolar disorder
People who used a weighted blanket were less likely to experience interrupted sleep at night. They had fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression during the day, suggesting that a weighted blanket is an effective tool for those who want to improve their mental health.
5. Travel-related gift cards
If you’re looking for stress relief gifts, travel-related gift cards are an excellent option. While travel can be stressful for people who live with conditions like anxiety, for those who simply need to improve mental health with some stress relief, getting away for a weekend trip can be the ultimate form of self-care.
Many airlines offer gift certificates to allow people to book a flight. Or you could consider buying a gift card from some hotel services to allow your loved one to take a much-needed weekend getaway without worrying about the cost of a hotel.
6. A journal
Gratitude journaling, or simply journaling about thoughts or emotions, can be beneficial for mental health. In fact, a review of 20 different studies found that journaling can alleviate mental health symptoms and be effective as an add-on treatment to therapy and other mental health services.
Your loved one who lives with a mental health condition will appreciate a new journal to help them get their thoughts on paper in the new year.
7. Books that promote mental health
As society becomes more tolerant of differences and more opposed to systematic oppression, more and more authors are stepping up to the plate to write about topics related to mental illness.
Some books serve to destigmatize the experience of people living with a mental health disorder, whereas others focus on providing individuals with knowledge about their emotional and mental health.
Top picks include the award-winning It Didn’t Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle.
8. Gym memberships
It’s no secret that physical activity is beneficial for mental health. But some people may not know how to begin an exercise regimen.
If a friend or family member has expressed interest in improving their well-being through physical fitness, buying them a gym membership or passes to a few group exercise classes can help them to get started.
Many gyms offer holiday deals and may even waive joiner fees or offer a few months at a highly discounted rate. If your budget is tight, a month-long membership at a gym will be appreciated, and it’s likely to be more affordable during the holiday season.
9. Essential oils
It seems like there is an essential oil blend for every purpose, and it turns out that these oils have benefits for mental health.
A 2021 report in Phytotherapy Research analyzed the results of numerous studies with essential oils and found that they affect the nervous system in ways that can lead to antidepressant, anti-anxiety, and sedative effects.
According to the report, sweet orange oil has relaxing effects, and lavender oil decreases anxiety. Other top picks include geranium oil, which also has an anti-anxiety effect, and rose oil, which improves sleep quality.
An essential oil blend coupled with a diffuser can help your loved one to achieve a feeling of calm.
10. Meditation videos
Mindfulness meditation has been found to be effective for improving attention, reducing stress, and promoting healthy emotional regulation.
Guided mindfulness meditation videos or an online meditation class can make excellent mental health gifts.
11. Mental health care packages
If you’re the creative type, or you have someone on your list to whom you devote a significant portion of your Christmas budget, you might consider putting together a mental health care package with various items on this list.
For example, you might pair a massage gift card with a book, a pass to a few group exercise classes, and an essential oil diffuser.
Get started
Final thought
If you or someone you love are looking to connect to a therapist, Calmerry offers online therapy to make mental health care more accessible for everyone.
We employ licensed therapists who are trained in treating a variety of conditions. Visit our website today to learn more.
