Parenting: The Challenge

The holidays can be a trying time for both parents and children. There are many feelings and emotions that the holidays bring up. Some, are welcomed others can cause havoc. Everyone has memories about the holidays when they were children. Good or bad, they are specific markers that can be hard to ignore.

This time of year is often busy, stressful and things have a way of getting to you, like managing a gifting budget, family expectations, gift selection, relatives and the whims and desires of children.

It is a good idea to take some time with your partner and immediate family and discuss what kind of holiday season you want to have. Talk about concerns, ideas you have and most of all the expectations you have. Often, the holidays are disappointing because there are unrealistic expectations about the entire event.

Then do some planning so that your family is not in overwhelm and you keep to a realistic budget for your money and your time. Work toward letting family members know what your plans are ahead of time so everyone is informed. That way when Aunt Martha finds out that you are not coming to her house this year, it won’t be a surprise at the last minute.

Look for ways to make this season less stressful. There are ways for children and parents to ease their stress response and feel more in control of their bodies and lives.

Parents can work on stress management for children and make the holidays more pleasant for everyone. Kiddie QR is a new program for children and families that is a way to help children from 3+ to 9 years of age manage their body’s response to stress.

Another way to help with the stress of the holidays is to give simple wooden and magnetic toys to the young children on your list. Simple toys, where children provide the energy instead of batteries, will be favorites for years to come.