Tips to Help Kids with Christmas Stress

Time off from school during the Christmas break sounds like a lot of fun until about two days into the Christmas school vacation, when video games become boring and there's nothing on television but Christmas shows. That's when Christmas stress for children can set in, and stress for your kids means stress for you too.

Of course, it doesn't help any that you are likely more stressed and more rushed than usual during the holiday season trying to get all the last minute Christmas shopping, decorating, food buying and cooking done, and still have a few moments to yourself. Your kids are likely going to feel your stress and that will only add to theirs too.

Add to that all the strange relatives and friends that will be in and out during the Christmastime celebrations, people your children may not remember from last year or are perhaps meeting for the first time. If you're travelling, then there is the stress of the trip and being away from home and their familiar surroundings and toys.

The following are some ideas and tips to help kids deal with Christmas stress this holiday season:

1.) Limit television and video game time. Non physical activities for prolonged periods of time can make a child lethargic and then when it's time to get up and do things or go places, your child will be less inclined to cooperate.

2.) Make sure your child gets plenty of sleep during the Christmas holiday break from school. Lack of sleep makes anyone grumpy and can lead to stress even in children. While it's tempting to let them stay up late when you're already up and wrapping gifts or baking and then letting your kids sleep in mornings, keeping close to a regular sleep schedule during the Christmas holidays can help with your child's stress levels.

3.) Keep any promises you make to your child during the Christmas holidays and don't make promises you know you can't keep. You children depend on you, and it's easy during the holidays to promise your child something, only to discover you are overextended already and you can't follow through. Your child will not handle the stress of mom or dad being undependable when it's not what they are used to seeing.

4.) Keep as close to a normal schedule as possible for regular activities such as bedtime, eating breakfast, lunch, dinner and other family time activities. Children thrive on schedule and consistency, even if you're not able to be at home during the holidays. If you're travelling, try to stop to eat on your trip around the same times you'd eat if you were at home. Keeping as normal a schedule as possible during Christmas can help alleviate some stress in children.

5.) Avoid over consumption of sugary and snack foods. It's easy with all the Christmas candy, Christmas meals, Christmas cookies, and Christmas party left over for your child to eat a lot of unhealthy foods that they typically wouldn't eat. Of course, it is a special time of year and it's a holiday season, so some treats are acceptable, but if you limit the treats so your child's diet isn't significantly changed during the holidays, it can help limit stress on your child.

6.) Don't put too much pressure on your children to be on their 'best behavior'. As a general rule, your children know they should behave when visiting someone else's house, and they likely will act the same when visiting even if you didn't tell them to act on their best behavior. Telling the child repeatedly how important it is they behave is doing two things: telling your child you don't trust him to behave without constantly reminding him and adding to your child's worry and stress about the event, almost ensuring they will not behave their very best!

7.) Do not expect or force your child to hug or be physically affectionate with people they do not know. This includes family members. Just because your child may be related to a person by blood or marriage doesn't make them any less of a stranger to that child when they first meet. We spend a lot of time and energy telling our children not to trust strangers, then at the holidays, force them to kiss or hug someone they've never met - a stranger to them. This has to be a stressful and confusing thing to a young child.

8.) Take the time to answer your child's questions. If your child is annoying you with tons of questions during the holidays, particularly if there are a lot of people in your home or you are visiting someone else's home, chances are your child is feeling a bit nervous and stressed and your answering them will make them feel better and more secure. In someone else's home, remember, you may very well be the only comfortable and familiar thing your child has.

9.) This is probably the most important of all for helping your child deal with stress this Christmas season. If your child is two or older, you need to talk to your child, in age appropriate language, and explain to them exactly what's going to happen. The older they are, the more you can tell them. Explain that the trip to grandma's house takes one hour. If they can't tell time or have no concept of it, explain that it is two episodes of their favorite show long. Tell them beforehand that they will be meeting a lot of new people who are strangers to them, but it's okay because you will be close by.

If you're going to stay overnight, tell your child this before it happens instead of springing it on them last minute. If plans change, let you child know as much in advance that what you told her is going to change. If your child knows you're going to be upfront with her, and that you are thinking about her too by letting her know what's going on, she will feel less stress and be able to have more fun enjoying the holiday.

These tips to help your child deal with holiday stress can make your Christmas break with your children more pleasant for you, your children, and anyone else you celebrate with during the holidays.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all!