The holidays can be a stressful time, especially with kids! Towards the end of the year, people are slammed with various holidays. In addition to Thanksgiving and Christmas, there are different cultural and religious holidays such as Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Regardless of what you celebrate, planning and celebrating these holidays can be exciting for children but also bring them stress and anxiety. In order to keep this season joyous and fun, here are some great ways to handle the holidays with your kids!
Avoid Overscheduling
One of the best parts of the holiday season is all the fun activities you can do with your family and friends. Christmas alone has plenty of events that parents are eager to have their children participate in like pictures with Santa or cutting down a tree. With so much to do, it is easy to pack your days with seasonal gatherings and more. However, overscheduling can easily overwhelm children. Children thrive on routine and the holidays have a habit of throwing a wrench into regular household schedules. Kids often can become stressed with big changes to naptimes and other activities are changed; especially when extra people are involved. Limit the amount of events you attend to allow your children time to decompress.
Mindful Eating
Between holiday feasts and seasonal treats, healthy eating tends to take a back seat. However, healthy eating is very important for reducing stress and anxiety in children. While it might be easier to let your child indulge in holiday sweets, regulating their sugar intake and preparing healthy snacks can reduce the risk of anxiety. Some great healthy snacks include apple slices, crackers, and cut vegetables.
Manage Your Stress
The best way to keep your child happy is to reduce your own stress. Children are very observant, especially with their parents. As a result, it is important to model the behavior that you want your child to learn. If you are stressed or anxious, your child will be just as stressed and anxious. So, it’s important to regulate your own emotions and make sure that you are mindful of what you can handle and what you can’t. Although the holidays come once a year, you should not overextend yourself. Your happiness is just as important for children this time of year. Quality time is one of the most important things your child needs this holiday season!
Of course, you can rely on Paradigm to help care for your kids during this busy holiday season. Whether it is half-day or full-day, Paradigm has excellent staff to help your child thrive!
