Dos and Don’ts of Minimizing Children’s Holiday Stress
By Barbara Thornton
During this holiday period, there are lots of fun activities and events going on both at home and at school, and while this is a good thing, holiday stress does cause varying degrees of anxiety in children.
Routines are important! Loss of sleep, change in diet and over stimulation can result in unhappiness for everyone, but these effects are often greater for children. So DO keep your child’s eating, sleeping and activity schedule as close to regular as possible. And when a change in routine is inevitable, try to get back on track as soon as you can. And DON’T let your child overdo on sweets.
DON’T over schedule your child. Don’t say yes to every invitation or request, or you will end up with more activities than your family can happily handle. DON’T forget – less is more.
If you are the type who must plan, then –
DO plan quiet time:
Reading stories
Hot cocoa and popcorn
Movie night at the house
Writing Holiday cards with a grandparent
DO plan activities to keep your child moving:
Going skating
Swimming at the YMCA
Outside play dates
Nature walks
DO watch your child’s cues. If you see your child starting to get tired or acting cranky, changing your plans may save you lots of grief in the long run. You may need to take a snack break, or add a nap on a day you didn’t expect it would be needed.
DO remember that you are the most important role model for your child.
Set a calm example. Keep things in perspective. Don’t set unrealistic expectation for yourself or your family members. Don’t compare the present with romanticized memories of holidays past.
DON’T blow things out of proportion. Even when things don’t go the way you had hoped, remember that a disaster now results in a funny story later.
DO take care of yourself. This may seem counter-intuitive with the holiday season messages, but being at your best is the most important gift you can give your family. Pay attention to your own needs and feelings during the holiday. One way to help alleviate your own stress is to take advantage of Parent’s Night Out at Kangaroo Kids.
DO accept that there will be stress. But DO live in the moment, DO appreciate every moment you share with your child, and DO be thankful for all you have.
Happy Holidays!
