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Coping With Holiday Hustle and
Bustle
Families can better cope with the hustle and bustle of
the holidays by following a few simple tips:
Keep routines as normal as possible and concentrate on
important activities to reduce holiday stress. Routines are
important for children, so try to maintain normal meal and
bedtime schedules even during holiday vacations. Children
may feel upset, grouchy or anxious during this busy time.
Don't expect children to always be happy and appreciative.
 Having
a quiet time is also a good idea during the holidays. Play
soft music, read stories or take a stroll to bring down your
child's activity level. Setting a "whisper hour," a time
when everyone in the house must whisper, is a way to reduce
noise and add mystery to the season.
Parents should select activities most important to the
family. By letting go of the less important ones, the
festive mood won't be hindered, but stress may be eased.
It's also a good idea to schedule activities over several
days so the excitement isn't overwhelming -- for the
children or for the parents. Make several short shopping
trips instead of one long trip. Children have short
attention spans and little endurance.
Here are some additional ways to deal with holiday
stress:
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Concentrate on people
instead of objects. For example, it's more important to
have fun making cookies than to have beautiful cookies.
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Prepare children for
holiday visits by sharing photos of family members.
Discuss who the people are and who the children will
see.
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Plan celebrations during
children's best coping time of the day.
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Touch people. A loving
touch can have the opposite effect of stress because it
calms people both physically and emotionally.
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Limit sugar, salt, caffeine
during holiday meals and snacks. They may result in the
same symptoms as stress.
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Have children help prepare
for celebrations by setting the table, cutting out
cookies, picking up toys, and designing and coloring
placemats.
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By letting children be part
of the festivities, the family emphasizes shared joys
and responsibilities during their holiday celebration.
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