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There is a great deal of focus on the good cheer during the holidays, but the holidays can also be very stressful—especially for children. Mount Nittany Health’s pediatric psychologist Dr. Shannon Manley recently spoke with Kathleen Rhine, President and CEO of Mount Nittany Health, about ways to manage stress in kids during the holiday season.

“The holidays can be stressful because it interrupts the typical routine for children,” said Dr. Manley. “I recommend sticking to your child's typical sleep schedule as much as you can. Try to keep bedtime within an hour of their usual sleep time when they are in school. It's also great to keep meal times around the same time.”

Parents should also set expectations for the winter break as early as possible. According to Dr. Manley, “Try to plan your winter break itinerary before the break comes to help kids manage their expectations about their free time. If you don't want your kids to be on their phones or use their screens too much over break, it's best to discuss ahead of time in order to avoid arguments and conflict.”

One of the ways parents can help reduce stress levels in their children is by using healthy coping mechanisms to manage their own stress. "It's important to manage your own stress as a parent, and to model that behavior for your child. It's similar to what flight attendants tell us every time we get on a plane - put on your own mask before helping others."

The holidays are also a time to celebrate traditions and make new memories. “Parents should be deliberate about creating family traditions that are holiday specific. Find something that your family would enjoy and fits with your family's values. It could be baking something special, making arts and crafts as a family, or shopping for a toy to donate to a child in need,” said Dr. Manley.

For more tips how to identify and manage stress and anxiety in children, along with ways to get help, watch the conversation with Kathleen Rhine and Dr. Manley: https://youtu.be/3HjxeTeXBQU

This summer Dr. Shannon Manley joined Mount Nittany Health pediatrics to help provide much-needed behavioral health services to our area.

According to the 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment, behavioral health is a growing community need in Centre County, and our youth are among the most likely to experience behavioral health concerns. Nearly 30% of Centre County youth report feeling consistently sad or depressed and 7% attempted suicide. These findings were largely unchanged from prior years.

Despite increasing behavioral health needs, the study found that Centre County has a deficit of behavior health providers, with delivery gaps across many areas including pediatric services. Dr. Manley is helping fill that gap.

Dr. Manley holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Juniata College and a Master of Arts and PhD from the University of Toledo in clinical psychology. She is passionate about accessibility, early intervention, serving rural and underserved populations, and providing evidence-based care to children and youth.