We love the holidays - We hate the holidays! And kids feel it too. Holidays are special but they throw our carefully orchestrated lives into chaos.
We, as well as our children, have huge expectations for how things will be. We want all the fun the toy-retailers promise, the perfect new outfits to pose for perfect pictures and priceless memories, and we want the Hallmark family who says and does all the right things. No stinky burping in each other's faces. No stressed-out mom screaming at Dad for remembering to buy more wrapping paper. And no sugared-up wild-child jumping on the coffee table when he should be in bed sweetly dreaming of sugar plum fairies.
Help your child manage the holiday excitement...
- Alternate energetic and quiet activities in the busy days and weeks ahead.
- Redirect your child's attention with a "transition game" when she gets "stuck" on one idea - Sing a happy song like these from Bussongs.com, act out a story using these story starters from kinderkorner.com, or play "I spy" or "I hear".
- Have a plan for the holiday gimme's.
Get ready for age-related fear of Santa Claus...
- Accept that this may not be the year for the smiling Santa Claus picture. Some young children are not okay being close to someone who dresses and looks so different from regular friends and family.
- Plan multiple visits to the mall allowing your child to watch other children before your picture day.
- If it's really important, invite a friend to wear the Santa Claus costume at home and take pictures there.
Slow down...just in case (household accidents are more likely when parents are busy and preoccupied with holiday activities)...
- Assign one person to watch little ones when grown-ups are busy, especially in pool areas (give them the Water Watcher safety necklace to wear until it's someone else's turn to supervise the kiddos).
- Read these holiday safety tips from American Academy of Pediatrics
- Remind guests to place purses and suitcases that might hold chokables or medications out of reach.
Remember your discipline basics...
- Say what you mean - state what you want (not what you don't want). Bring me the glass ornament and I'll help you put it back on the tree (instead of "OMG...don't drop that ornament!")
- Mean what you say - be prepared to act on your words if your child doesn't comply. E.G., walk over to your child and calmly get the ornament.
- If your child is "testing", shut down the situation quickly. See How Do You Know when You Child is Testing You. Here are great tips on discipline & tantrums from the New York Times Health Guide.
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