How Online School Can Help Students with Seasonal Affective Disorder

January 26, 2023 byConnections Academy

7 min to read

Students often look forward to the change of seasons. From crisp air to the first snow, the fall and winter months are typically exciting times of the year. While enjoyable for many students, other kids may seem to struggle to get through the day—especially as the daylight hours get shorter and the sun sets earlier. Instead of enjoying the change, these kids might seem sad, have low energy, and even lose interest in their studies.

These symptoms are commonly indicative of a type of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD. If you’ve noticed that your child’s mood changes every time fall and winter come around, don’t brush it off as a case of the “winter blues.” There are steps you can take to help.

What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that is triggered by the change of seasons. SAD can impact your daily life, including how you feel and think. Although it typically occurs during the colder months, people can develop SAD in the spring and summer, although it’s less common.

If you’ve never experienced depression in kids, it might be difficult to pinpoint symptoms in your K–12 student. That’s why it’s important to know the signs to look for if you suspect your child is prone to SAD.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder in Children?

When it comes to identifying seasonal depression in kids, the symptoms often match those of other kinds of depression.

Here are some that you should be aware of:

Social withdrawal
Changes in eating habits
Loss of interest in school or their favorite activities
Low energy or lethargy
Hopeless, worthless, or guilty feelings

And while this condition can impact all components of a student’s day-to-day life, it’s important to acknowledge how it can affect your child’s academics.

How Is SAD Different from Major Depression?

By definition, Seasonal Affective Disorder is a subtype of major depression. SAD symptoms are known to usually last four to five months. Therefore, seasonal affective disorder in children is not considered a separate disorder, but is a type of depression that is distinguished by its recurrent, seasonal patterns.

The biggest difference to note is that depressive episodes can occur any time during the year and are often more intense compared to SAD, which disappears when the weather gets warmer again.

Now that we’ve established what SAD is, let’s take a look at some practical tips you can implement to help improve seasonal depression in kids, in addition to seeking professional treatment from a health care provider.

How Does SAD Impact Academics?

Whether your student attends virtual school or in-person classes, SAD can have a direct impact on their academic success. Research has found that students with greater depressive symptoms are more likely to report that feeling down impacts their ability to do well in school, concentrate on or complete homework, attend class, and interact with other students.

So, if your child’s productivity has decreased, it’s not as uncommon as you’d think. For example, if their favorite subject was once math and they now seem to be failing every test or skipping homework, these are indicators that they could be experiencing SAD.

What Can Parents Do to Help Their Children?

Get Outside

This may sound like a given, but going outside regularly is far less likely to occur in the colder months due to low temperatures. The good news is, there are ways to make it happen despite the weather.

Since SAD is linked directly to lack of sunlight, the flexibility of online school allows you to make it a priority for your student to go outside every day. It doesn’t have to be for an extended period, either. You could take them on a car ride to sightsee, bring them along for an errand, or opt for a quick walk so they can get direct sunlight.

Spending time in nature has been proven to lessen stress and fatigue in children, making outside a good environment where they can mentally thrive.

Develop a Routine

Establishing a routine can go a long way in helping your child manage SAD. Not only do routines encourage consistency, they offer a form of stability for your student, but having set schedules also alleviates anxiety, which will help your child feel safe and secure.

You can develop a helpful routine by establishing regular mealtimes and bedtimes. Seasonal depression in kids can manifest as oversleeping, so a regular bedtime and wake up schedule will help them regulate to ensure they are receiving the proper amount of daytime light.

Encourage Healthy Habits

When helping to manage seasonal affective disorder in children, healthy habits like eating nutritious meals and exercising can potentially turn things around. If your virtual school student has been spending time alone and eating junk food, it will likely leave them feeling even more sluggish.

Eating nutritious meals benefits children in many ways, with one of the most beneficial being brain development. By encouraging them to eat healthily, they’ll feel better and think more clearly because a healthy brain can assist your child in processing their thoughts and feelings.

Additionally, exercise is a positive outlet for releasing stress. At Connections Academy®, virtual PE classes are integrated into the curriculum so that students at every grade level engage in physical activity. From yoga to tai chi, your child will be enjoying themselves and relieving stress all at once!

Assist with Homework and Class Assignments

If your child is suffering from SAD, you may need to take an increased role in helping them with their homework and class assignments. Learning Coaches at Connections Academy have access to their student’s assignments through Learning Coach Central, where they can stay updated on the curriculum.

For younger students, you’re able to sit with them to ensure they’re on the right track. However, to take it up a notch, you can also play rewards-based games to help them find enjoyment in homework. For online high school students, instead of sitting with them during daily instruction or at homework time, you could spark up a conversation to inquire about what they’re learning, which will allow them to build interest in their studies.

Spend Quality Time Together

Depression in kids may look different than it does in adults, but spending quality social time together is essential for positive mental health for all.

Through quality time, you’ll learn how they’re feeling and how you can help. And it doesn’t have to be a huge lift. You can plan quality time throughout the week to ensure you’re keeping up with your child and their emotions. You could bake together, play board games, or even watch a movie to show your support.

Be Patient

It’s important to remember that your student might not understand what they’re going through at this time, so patience will be essential while managing seasonal depression in kids. While they may be irritable and withdrawn, they are not doing it intentionally, and just need compassion.

You could show compassion through positive affirmations and open and honest conversations about their emotions. Though SAD is a sensitive topic, it’s important to be patient and supportive as they’re experiencing these complicated feelings.

Children who are impacted by seasonal affective disorder may feel like they’re the only ones experiencing it, but as a parent, you can let them know they aren’t alone.

As you’re helping them manage their emotions, take some tips from our article on how to assist your student with managing stress at every grade level.

If you or someone you know is in immediate distress or is thinking about hurting themselves, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-free at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You also can text the Crisis Text Line (HELLO to 741741) or use the Lifeline Chat on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.