Holiday Season is Here!?

Yes, the holiday season is here! Our first session of play & learn groups has come to a close but you can keep quality time with family at the top of your wish list! This season provides great opportunities to expose your child(ren) to new ideas and experiences, to reinforce learned skills and knowledge, and to encourage creativity, empathy and kindness (more ideas on that later).

But when “holiday time” is synonymous with over scheduling, frenzied shopping, and family obligation what’s a parent to do? We’ll post tips & ideas here to help you through and make “the holidays” feel like an actual holiday again.

First, the most important way parents can help ease anxiety in children during the holidays is by setting a calm example. If you let holiday stress get to you, your kids will certainly pick up on it so take steps to handle your own stress and anxiety first.

Today, make a commitment to simplify your priorities. As parents, the more-the-merrier can sometimes feel a bit more than merrier especially when it comes to the routines and schedules our young children depend on. To feel more in control, ask yourself what your top priorities are for the holiday season, then write them all down. Yes on an actual piece of paper. This is important because you are going to read over your list then cross off things that you could live without until you come to one (okay, or two) and that is what you care most about. From now on, everything you do this month is a choice to keep focusing on that and let the other things go.