The rainy season can be quite challenging, can't it? 😣💦

"I've been in a bad mood lately..."

"I can't seem to wake up in the morning."


"My siblings are always fighting at home..."



As the rainy season arrives, more and more parents are feeling these kinds of worries. 🤔

Actually, we see many of the same behaviors at the nursery school too. ☂️

In my 17 years of childcare experience, I've come to feel that

children during the rainy season


are not being "selfish"

but rather that their minds and bodies are becoming easily fatigued due to the changes in the weather.

⭐️Why are they in a bad mood from the morning?

The rainy season brings significant changes in atmospheric pressure, which can cause headaches and lethargy even in adults. ☔️ ☁️

Children are the same. 👦

At the nursery school, we often see them:


* Staring blankly 🙂

* Crying from the morning 😢

* Asking to be held 😖

* Taking time to start moving 🤤



These behaviors are commonly seen. 😁💦



✨Things you can do at home


① Wake them up 10 minutes earlier

Being woken up at the last minute is tough, even for adults.

Waking them up a little earlier to have:

* Time to lounge on the sofa

* Time to read a picture book

* Time to watch their favorite TV show

can help them get into a better mood. 😊



② Soak up the morning sun

Even on cloudy days, open the curtains and let the light in. ☀️

It helps regulate their internal clock and makes it easier to wake up.

⭐️Reasons for the increase in "I don't want to go to nursery school"

Fatigue tends to accumulate during the rainy season, and children cannot put that fatigue into words. 😔


Therefore,


"I don't want to go! 😫"

"I want to stay with Mommy! 😢"

"My stomach hurts! 😰"

They may express it in these ways.

✨Recommended words of encouragement


❌ "Hurry up!"

❌ "Everyone else is going!"

⭕ "It's raining today, isn't it? Let's do our best to go together."

⭕ "What shall we play when you get home?"

Creating something to look forward to makes it easier for them to shift their mood. 😊

⭐️Reasons for acting out or fighting at home


When outdoor play decreases, their desire to move their bodies is not satisfied. 🏃‍♂️‍➡️

Then...

* Jumping on the sofa

* Increased sibling fighting

* Restlessness

* Increased mischief


These behaviors follow. 💦

I'll introduce some indoor activities we do at the nursery school. 😊

✨ Newspaper play

Just tearing, crumpling, and throwing them is very satisfying.

✨ Circuit play

* Stepping over cushions
* Rolling on a futon
* Crawling through a tunnel

Even 5 minutes uses up a lot of energy.

✨ Dance time

Just playing one of their favorite songs and dancing together as parent and child can be a great change of pace.

⭐️Increased clinginess is a sign that their heart is tired

They may suddenly say things like

“Hold me,”

“Sleep with me,”

or “I want Mommy.”

As a parent,

“Is this regression? 😰”

“Are they being selfish? 💦”



you might worry, but it is actually an expression of their desire to feel secure.

✨ Interactions childcare workers often use

* Rubbing their back

* Letting them sit on your lap

* Making eye contact while listening



Even just three minutes of this leads to a sense of security that they have been seen. 😊

⭐️Recommended habits for the rainy season

✨ Let them choose their own rain boots

Favorite rain boots can boost their motivation for going to school.

✨ Rainy day exploration

Open an umbrella ☂️ and

* Look for snails
* Look for hydrangeas
* Observe puddles

Doing these things can make rainy days a fun time. 🌈😊


✨ Relax in the bath

Taking a slow, warm bath can improve the quality of their sleep.

⭐️Magic words practiced by childcare workers

“You’re tired, aren’t you? ☺️”

Just having their feelings voiced for them brings comfort.

“You’re doing your best. 😌”

Acknowledge their effort, not just the result.

“It’s okay. 👍”

Words that accept their anxious feelings.

Children calm down when they feel their feelings are understood, rather than being given solutions.



⭐️To parents and guardians

The rainy season is a time when not only children but also adults get tired easily.


Laundry won't dry 🧺

Drop-offs and pick-ups are difficult ☔️

No breathing room between work and housework 🧹

There are days like that too!!

When a child is in a bad mood for several days, some people worry, “Am I interacting with them the wrong way?”



But

It is often just the influence of the season!

“Today is just a day where everyone is tired. 💡”

Thinking that way alone can make you feel a little more at ease. 😊




⭐️In closing

Children during the rainy season are a little tired in both mind and body.

That is exactly why

* Sleep a little earlier

* Give them a little hug

* Listen to them a little more



The accumulation of these “little” things leads to a child's sense of security. 😊

Since it's a season with many rainy days, let's cherish the time we spend together as parents and children. ☔️🌈