Holidays for Children

Christmas can be extremely stressful for small children (as well as their parents) for many reasons. They often wear clothes they are uncomfortable in, are wrenched away from their newly unwrapped gifts and are expected to socialize with family and guests they may not know very well. They are sensitive beings that tune into the underlying tensions and anxieties of those who surround them and this can feed their stress causing meltdowns and fussiness. Older children will mask this stress by complaining and stating their unwillingness to participate in the festivities while younger children can become fussy, quick to tears and if not handled quickly can muster up a full blown temper tantrum.

Here are some tips to keep in mind this Christmas:

1) Never skip routine naps and feeding schedules (although this tip is geared toward children ages 5 and under, it is also very valid for your older children as well as yourself). Nothing will spoil the festive mood like a overly tired 2 year old who is waiting for a meal he/she is used to eating an hour before dinner is scheduled to begin.

2) Don't sweat the small stuff in regards to their wardrobe. If your teenage daughter insists on wearing jeans or "I am not going to Grandma's today", then make a compromise by picking which blouse she will wear. In some part she will feel as if her feelings were validated and that she had some control over her wardrobe. Most children do not care to wear the traditional Holiday attire, they tend to be constrictive and overwhelming. Although you see a handsome young man in a suit that resembles his father more and more each day, they are dreading the dinner for fear they will ruin their "good" clothes.

3) Opt for a mid-afternoon meal instead of the late night supper. They later in the day you sit down to eat your meal the more chance of a mishap or meltdown, most children are completely worn out come dinner time and when children are tired they tend to be more difficult to handle.

4) Consider letting your children open the bulk of their gifts on Christmas Eve, saving the special ones for Christmas morning. Once they close their eyes and sleep the "newness" will have worn off a bit and they will not fight leaving their toys behind as vigilantly.

5) Do not force them to socialize with family members whom they see only once or twice a year. Uncle Johnny may be the sweetest man on earth but to your child he is practically a stranger, they may not even recognize him from one family gathering to another for quite some time. Older children feel pressured to interact with distant family members and can become grumpy and put-off.

Just remember that they are little individuals with their own ideas, thoughts, wants and needs; take your cues from their behaviors. Most of all keep your stress level down, try not to create more tension if it can be avoided. Maybe with this in mind you will have a Merry Christmas and the happiest of winter Holidays.