Mooney

The holidays are most often a time of joyful celebration for children and families. Even with adjustments to some of the usual school traditions like concerts and class parties, there is still a lot of cheer to be found in our classrooms and in our community.

But for some students, this season is the most difficult time of the year. A study from the National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 64% of people with mental illness say their conditions worsen during the holidays. This is true for adults and children alike.

Children are like sponges, soaking up everything around them – joy, gratitude, stress, and anxiety alike. What they experience at home, at school, and with friends shapes the way they process and manage their emotions and mental health.

We’ve all been living through a historically traumatic time, and the accumulation of that anxiety takes a toll.

Teachers and staff in the Hermiston School District pay close attention to the social and emotional needs of students. Their mental and physical well-being is every bit as important as their academic growth. They are intrinsically linked.

It’s even more important that parents have the tools to help their children develop healthy coping skills and positive mental health. The five areas we pay attention to, and ask parents to help cultivate, are:

• Self-Management — How well students manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations.

• Social Awareness — How well students consider the perspectives of others and empathize with them.

• Grit — How well students persevere through setbacks to achieve long-term goals.

• Growth Mindset — How students perceive the potential to change factors central to their performance in school.

• Emotion Regulation — How well students regulate their emotions.

It starts in the home, and when students enter kindergarten we begin by talking about how to listen to what their feelings and bodies are telling them. We teach students how to calm themselves when they are overwhelmed and how to name what they are experiencing.

As they move through elementary school we begin to work with students on their grit and how to develop a growth mindset. They learn that challenges are learning opportunities, and how to build supportive relationships with others.

In secondary grades we focus on interpersonal skills and respect for themselves and others, which are both important parts of creating a safe environment. They also learn how to set goals for themselves and follow through. Using these skills they are better prepared to handle the stress and anxiety life can throw at them.

We can always remember that the holidays aren’t a time for joy for everyone, and that expressing sadness and depression is the healthiest way to deal with them. It can be difficult when it feels like everyone else is feeling festive, but you are not alone.

We do hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season and come back refreshed for a new year and new opportunities in 2022.