Handling the holidays: a guide to Managing the holiday madness with children
The holiday season is upon us and with it comes a few challenges for parents, mostly because they must find a way to balance their everyday schedule with taking care of their toddlers. On the bright side, it can be a bonding time for you and your little one if managed properly.
The holiday season is a time for lots of shopping, eating, visiting, and celebrations. You may even dare to plan to travel with your family (which includes traveling with small children). While the holiday season is a joyous time (for most) it can also be hard on young children and put a strain (or damper) on your plans. But the good news is, while hiccups and adjustments are necessary when you have children, it can still be enjoyable. It just takes a little more planning and patience!
Change is hard for anyone. Regardless of age. When we disrupt our normal flow or routine it can cause some discomfort or anxiety. The same is to be said for children, who thrive in structure and consistency. They can be a little sensitive to the changes and that might affect their mood….which affects your mood…which affects the day…which affects your trip and so on and so forth.
Couple that with having to navigate the intricacies of family dynamics, unsolicited advice and/or criticism from friends, families, and even strangers and it can be a recipe for disaster. But fret not! I am here with some quick tips on how you can decrease the frustration and increase the fun!
Tips on how to make the holiday(s) more enjoyable for everyone:
Maintain their sleep schedule: Try your best to bring things that resemble their sleeping arrangements at home (such as a favorite stuffy, blanket, noise machine, etc). But also try to keep your sleep schedule intact. That goes for naps and bedtime to ensure they are getting the rest they need and staying consistent so they are not out of routine too much when you return.
Don’t overstress about what they eat: Holiday seasons are filled with lots of sweet treats and sugar-coated snacks. While yes, everything in moderation is key, try not to ruminate too much over how much they are having during this season. In addition, holiday food (especially with young children) may not be things your child likes and they may refuse to eat too much. Be sure to have “safe foods”. That is, food your child does eat (you may be rolling your eyes at this one). Carbohydrates are always a good start (pasta(s), rice, etc) because they don’t vary in taste too much which is why children LOVE them.
Set Boundaries (and appropriate expectations): Kids are known to love wandering about the apartment and exploring new things, especially Christmas trees. Be sure that you are manipulating the environment, NOT the child. What do I mean by that? Instead of trying to control or demand your child to not touch the tree (even though that is developmentally appropriate for children), you can put barriers near the tree to keep them off. OR if you know that a particular home you visit is not so kid-friendly, maybe avoid it or ask if they can put valuables away for safekeeping.
Be sure to set (and communicate) the expectations to children in a way that they understand and make sure it is developmentally appropriate. When we ask things of our children that they are not able to do developmentally, we are setting them (and us) up for disappointment.
This also goes for setting boundaries with family members. Let them know your preferences, parenting choices, needs, etc. and that it needs to be respected. We are our children’s most important advocate. Be that (and don’t feel guilty about it).
Plan your events properly: If you travel for the holidays with your child, you should ensure that each day is not jam-packed with too many activities. Try to schedule some downtime to decompress. This can even be as simple as taking them away into a part of the house where no one is to have some calm and quiet away from stimulation so that they don’t get too exhausted and cranky. It is okay to say no to an event if it means that you and your family get the time to regroup.
Have them do some physical activity: Have your toddlers get busy during the day so they can get some wiggles out. The holidays can be a time of a lot of sitting and waiting. Ensure they have time to be able to move freely. Bonus if you join them! It can be as simple as dancing, racing, or playing catch.
Ask for Help: There’s nothing wrong with asking family, friends, or neighbors to help with things if you are feeling overwhelmed or out of sorts. It is important that we also take time for ourselves to regulate and decompress throughout all of the holiday madness. When we are our best selves, we can help our children be their best selves!
You and your kids can have a fun time during the holidays if the following tips are infused in your daily routine. The holiday season can be stress-free and memorable one for the entire family as long as we can be flexible and compassionate that things may not go perfectly…and that is OKAY!
Key Note: the important part is our intention, not perfection! These tips are just a guide and try to do them to the best of your abilities. Some things are out of our control. That is okay. There is always time to get back on track once things settle down.
