Helping your child cope with holiday stress
The holiday season may not only leave you frenzied but can sometimes be a stressful time for your child as well. Family celebrations can become complicated when parents are divorced or remarried. Children may also have a difficult time around the holidays if they have lost a parent or loved one, or have a parent on active duty in the military. Child psychiatrist, Dr. David Fassler put together a list of 10 tips to help your child cope with holiday stress:
1. Discuss holiday plans well in advance with your child and let them
participate in the planning process as much as possible.
2. If you're traveling, leave plenty of extra time and bring child friendly snacks, books, games, music, etc.
3. Don't overschedule. Kids can get easily tired out, and cranky during the holidays.
4. Give kids some "down time." Leave room for some quiet activities, such as taking a walk or reading a book.
5. Make sure kids get plenty of sleep.
6. Let kids be honest about their feelings.
7. Don't promise something you can't produce. For example, don't promise a parent will be home for the holidays if that decision is out of your control.
8. Uphold family traditions even if a parent is absent.
9. Don't try and compensate for an absent parent with extra gifts or toys.
10. Take care of yourself. If you feel stressed, it increases the tension and pressure on your children.
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