What to Know About Seasonal Affective Disorder in Kids

We turned to pediatric experts to learn more about how to know if your child has seasonal affective disorder, and how to help them.

Medically reviewed by Michelle Felder, LCSW, MA

When fall and winter arrive, it usually brings a host of fun, kid-friendly activities. From trick-or-treating to Thanksgiving feasts and festive snowy activities, the change in seasons can be a welcome respite from the dog days of summer.

But for some kids, these shorter days and cooler weather is anything but fun. For them, their days may be plagued with irritability, fatigue, and a low mood—especially if they have been diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

SAD is a mood disorder or type of depression that typically occurs when fall and winter roll around. If you notice that every time the season changes, your kid's mood changes with it, you may wonder if your child, too, could have SAD.

Below, mental health experts share insights on what SAD is, what causes it, and how it is diagnosed. You also will find tips on what to do to help your child through this trying time.

Related: Teen Depression: Statistics, Causes, and Treatment

What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a type of mood disorder or depression that is influenced by the seasons. Typically, it is characterized by mood changes, feelings of sadness, and feeling down or blue, says Abraham S. Bartell, MD, MBA, associate professor and vice chair, Department of Psychiatry at New York Medical College.

“In many cases, it is not exclusively about feeling down, but can be accompanied by more subtle symptoms including low energy, poor motivation, difficulty concentrating, and changes in appetite and sleep patterns,” Dr. Bartell says. “Unlike other types of mood disorders, SAD is associated with a seasonal pattern and is often self-limiting and less severe, but is a recurrent process, and that can become more severe.”

Much of the time, SAD first appears in a person's early 20s. But older children and teens are certainly not immune and can develop the condition as well. Some estimates indicate that as many as one million children and adolescents suffer from seasonal affective disorder each year.

What Causes Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Experts are not completely clear on what causes SAD, but there are a few theories. For instance, Victoria Cosgrove, PhD, co-director of the Pediatric Mood Disorders Clinic, Stanford School of Medicine indicates that the condition may be associated with an overproduction of melatonin in some individuals. Having an excess of this hormone could lead to extreme sleepiness and low energy in some kids.

“There is also an idea that a child’s circadian rhythm, which is driven by serotonin and melatonin, becomes [desynchronized] by the shift in light,” Cosgrove adds. “Even lower levels of vitamin D, caused by less exposure to sunlight, has been tied to serotonin activity.”

Melatonin and serotonin not only help regulate your child’s energy level and mood, but also play a pivotal role in their sleep-wake cycles. But when kids are faced with shorter days and less sunlight, this can disrupt their levels of these hormones and make them more susceptible to seasonal depression.

Related: The Best RD-Approved Vitamins For Kids Who Need a Little Extra Nutrition

Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder in Kids

The symptoms of SAD are similar to other types of depression, including changes in sleep and appetite, low energy, changes in mood, feelings of hopelessness, and decreased enjoyment in things previously enjoyed, says Jennifer King, DSW, LISW, an assistant professor and co-director of the Center on Trauma and Adversity at Case Western Reserve University.

That said, not every child will experience seasonal depression in the same way. Some will experience only a few symptoms, while others may display a multitude of issues. According to Mary Fristad, PhD, a pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, a child with SAD may:

• Exhibit a lack of energy

• Sleep more, but not feel rested

• Feel fatigued or exhausted

• Overeat or crave carbohydrates

• Lose interest in their favorite activities

• Avoid spending time with friends or family

• Have trouble concentrating or focusing

• Throw temper tantrums or be irritable and grouchy

• Experience feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness

• Have thoughts of death or suicide

“In kids, we also think about how they are developing,” says Cosgrove. “Are they meeting their expected weight gain? Is their sleep impaired? Do they have fatigue along with a loss of energy? Does their depression follow a seasonal pattern? You also might notice more subtle changes like a child who was formerly engaged with math, for example, might sit way longer at the table working on their problems than they normally would.”

Related: I Was a Teen with Depression; Here’s What I Wish I Knew

How Is Seasonal Affective Disorder Diagnosed?

To diagnose SAD, two or more consecutive years of seasonal depression symptoms are required, says Fristad. “The depressed phase of SAD frequently lasts about four to five months, approximately November through February or March. This can vary based on local patterns of sunshine. In other words, the closer you are to the equator, the more sunshine you will experience in the winter months.”

Keep an eye on these patterns and how they may veer from your child's "normal" behavior. This helps differentiate typical moodiness from depression, King says. “It's important to note, though, that any type of depression entails the above symptoms for at least two weeks.”

If you have concerns about your child experiencing SAD, the first step is to talk to a pediatrician or health care provider. Screening tools and questionnaires can help determine whether a diagnosis is appropriate, and a provider can refer your child for further assessment or treatment if needed.

Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder in Kids

Your child’s treatment plan for SAD will depend on their unique situation, including the severity of their symptoms and how receptive they are to treatment. Some kids will benefit from working with a therapist, getting outside more, and using a light box, while others may require medication on top of those interventions.

“Getting outdoors into the sunlight daily is the first recommendation, ideally coupled with vigorous exercise,” says Fristad. “If that is either not enough or not feasible, a light box purchased from a reputable source is an easy-to-use intervention.”

According to Fristad, light box therapy includes 20 to 30 minutes of exposure first thing in the morning to a bright light—or 10,000 lux. “That measure of illumination is like being outside on a sunny day. If dimmer bulbs are used, they won’t have an effect on mood and energy because they aren’t ‘activating’ enough. Some people benefit from an additional 20 to 30 minute boost in the mid-late afternoon.”

She suggests checking with a health care provider and insurance company about getting a prescription for a light box, because some portion of the cost may be reimbursable.

If you want to try a light box, Fristad suggests setting it up as an indirect light source. “Typically, families could get up in the morning and catch up on the news or check on homework and emails with the light box set up several feet away. For example, have it on the kitchen counter while eating breakfast at the table.”

Tips for Helping Your Child Cope With SAD at Home

As a parent, the biggest thing that you can do is not ignore their symptoms, says Cosgrove. “If you start to see your child struggling, or you start to observe some of these symptoms like change in behavior or loss of interest in their favorite activities, you should have them evaluated by a pediatrician.”

You also can embrace and reframe what is going on, she adds. This means at the family level, you should embrace the “shut in” that the season sometimes causes and create a warm atmosphere. Use hot drinks, candles, and fireplaces along with more social interactions to make being inside more pleasurable. Play games, cuddle on the couch, or read a book together. “Kids are primed to react to social cues, so you want to encourage positive social experiences for them.”

You also should push yourself to spend more time outdoors, says King. Even if you’re in an area where it gets cold, just bundle up and get outside. “Winter can be tough on all of us, [but try] to spend time together with your child. As many folks here in the midwest say, there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes!”

Other ideas include raking a pile of leaves and then jumping in them, going on a hike, or giving an outdoor skating rink a whirl, adds Fristad. “If there is snow—play in it! Go sledding, tobogganing, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing. [You also] can make a snowman, snow angels, or a snow fort. [Even making] paths for a game of duck-duck-goose, [can be fun].”

When to Contact a Health Care Provider

If getting outdoors, being physically active, or getting a light box do not seem to provide enough relief for your child, or if their mood is interfering with their day-to-day life, making it hard for them to complete their school work, affecting their sleep, and impacting their eating habits, you should contact your child’s primary health care provider, says Fristad.

Another barometer to consider is how long their depressive symptoms last. Most experts, including Fristad, indicate that if your child’s symptoms last more than two weeks and do not improve, you should contact a health care professional. Additionally, get help for them right away if they talk about suicide, dying, or harming themselves.

Overall, SAD is a common issue that many people of all ages face. Together with your family and the input of a health care provider, if you choose to see one, you'll be able to come up with the right solution for you and your child.

Related: Stay-at-Home-Mom Depression is Real—And You're Not Alone

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