Reevaluate traditions: Some parents love to have the annual mall picture of their kids dressed in holiday clothing, SOME kids love it as well. If your child considers it a frightening or overstimulating experience, this might be a tradition to reevaluate. You can also take advantage of a Caring Santa, if it is available in your area. If you are still forming family traditions, take a look at this cute link Magical Family Christmas Traditions for some great ideas.

Pick just a few good ones: Ask your children to tell you about the things you did the year before. If looking at lights sticks out in their mind or Elf on a Shelf is something they remember, those would be something to find time for again this year. If wrapping presents, baking cookies or delivering meals to neighbors are traditions they recall, then what a great way to involve your children in holiday cheer! Gingerbread houses, paper snowflakes, and stringing popcorn are all activities that can strengthen fine motor skills too! Keeping these traditions stress free means planning ahead to have materials read. When you do have time to do these activities with the kids, make the time spent together the sole focus, not the product. Do you stress yourself out unnecessarily trying to CREATE traditions? This year reevaluate what is important to you, and what you want your children remember of the experience.