Between changes in routine and visiting family (or having them visit you), the holidays can be emotionally overwhelming for children and adults alike, even in \u201cnormal times.\u201d Add in inclement weather, the desire for a perfect holiday and parents still working, and you have a perfect cocktail for emotional meltdowns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe key to enjoying whatever this holiday season brings is to acknowledge the range of emotions the entire family may be feeling and hold space for those feelings,\u201d said Ariel Acosta from KinderCare\u2019s Inclusion Services team. \u201cBy working on a few key things now before the heightened expectations and busyness set in, families can build a toolbox of skills that will help make the season less stressful for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider these tips to help families prepare for a less stressful holiday season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Find ways to destress as a family<\/strong> \u2013 Throw on some music and have a dance party. Incorporate some simple yoga moves or stretches into your day to create mindful moments. Help your children create a list of calm-down techniques to choose from when they start to become overwhelmed or as a way to reset after an outburst, such as taking a deep breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Set expectations for greetings <\/strong>\u2013 Talk with your children about your family\u2019s expectations around greetings and help them think of and practice different ways to say hello, such as a hug, handshake, high-five, wave or verbal greeting. Giving your children options ahead of time allows them to choose the greeting that feels most comfortable in the moment. To lessen the pressure, make sure family members and friends understand what you and your children are comfortable with. For example, \u201cIt looks like Zazil doesn\u2019t want a hug right now, Auntie Mei. Perhaps a high-five would be better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Give your children (and yourself) grace<\/strong> \u2013 Talk with your children about the range of emotions you feel throughout the day. This can help them learn emotional literacy and flexible thinking. It also normalizes feelings. When a big feeling does happen, remember to connect before you correct by labeling and validating your child\u2019s emotions: \u201cI can see that you\u2019re really sad we have to leave the party. Leaving makes me feel sad, too. What would help you feel better?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your child is engaged in unsafe behaviors, like hitting, wait until after everyone is calm before talking about what could be done differently next time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow you handle your mistakes can be a powerful example for your children,\u201d Acosta said. \u201cOnce you\u2019re calm, explain what happened to your children. Start by naming your emotion, apologize if you didn\u2019t handle your feelings well and let your children know what you plan to do differently next time. \u2018I was really mad you two were arguing and I yelled. I shouldn\u2019t have done that. Next time, I\u2019m going to try to remember to take some deep breaths to help me speak more kindly.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n