By Michelle Smith Howard, President & CEO of Kids’ First Years
Alexandria, VA – The holiday season is underway and calendars are filled with festive events featuring food, fun, and family time. However, the hustle and bustle of this busy time of year can cause parents with young children to feel stressed and anxious instead of calm and peaceful.
To help families in Alexandria embrace the holidays with a maximum of love and a minimum of stress, Kids’ First Years reached out to one of its community partners, the City of Alexandria’s Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS)/Early Childhood Services, for some tips to share with parents and caregivers when time-crunched schedules threaten to derail the holiday spirit.
Below are some excellent tips from LaShonda McDade, MS, a Team Leader and Local System Manager for the DCHS Parent & Infant Education Program (PIE):
~ It’s important for families that have a support system or “village” to lean on them when needed throughout the year, but especially – and sometimes more – during holiday time. For many families, this is the time of year that extended family members visit. If they are available and offer to step in and lend a hand, Ms. McDade recommends that parents and caregivers be willing to accept the help, so that they can get some rest or time to do other things that they don’t usually get the chance to. It is okay to take some time for yourself and not feel guilty.
~ McDade also recommends that all parents and caregivers practice self-care for themselves. For those who may not have a “village” that can help as mentioned above, this is even more important. Even a moment of meditation or a few minutes of breathing or stretching exercises every so often can help alleviate or reduce the feelings of stress or anxiety that tend to creep up during the busy holiday season.
~ It’s critical for parents of infants and toddlers with special needs to plan strategies to implement when things don’t go as expected during family outings, holiday travel, or a big family dinner. Think about the child’s current routine and how the holidays will undoubtedly result in changes to the daily schedule. Plan in advance for how the child might respond to events with large groups of people, including visits from family members and traveling to various gatherings. Talk through concerns with the child’s therapists to get additional advice in managing the holiday hoopla.
~ Have fun during the holidays! Young children learn from their daily interactions and engagements with others. Engaging them in their family’s seasonal traditions and customs helps shape them as individuals, as well as helps them learn about their own culture, family, and expectations. This engagement also provides the opportunity for young children to bond with their family members and learn about others, while creating positive experiences surrounding family security and the importance of family values. If you don’t already have rituals in place, invite your children to create new family traditions that they’ll look forward to each year.
Some examples of age-appropriate jobs that preschoolers can do to help get ready for holiday meals or celebrations include:
- Pouring already measured ingredients into bowl when baking
- Helping to knead dough for pie crust
- Using plastic cookie cutters to cut dough and place cookies on the pan prior to baking
- Helping to stir/whisk cake mix prior to baking
- Helping to decorate for the holidays (decorations that are lower and not glass or dangerous) for front door/tables/floor/bottom of Christmas tree, etc.
- Making gingerbread houses
- Making homemade ornaments or greeting cards
~ A final tip is for parents and caregivers to manage their own expectations to deliver the best holiday for their children. With social media, television, and societal expectations, it can be hard to not compare themselves to others. Making a budget and allowing themselves some peace of mind can be one of the biggest gifts parents can give themselves during the holiday season.
NOTE to Alexandria parents: If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s development, please reach out to the PIE Program at 703-746-3363.
Bonus Tip: Sign Up for Basics Insights
Basics Insights is a free text messaging tool that provides two texts each week tied to one of The Basics principles. Below are some examples of texts that align with The Basics Principle #1 – Maximize Love, Minimize Stress. To sign up, visit https://kidsfirstyears.org/basics/.
- Think about what really matters and what doesn’t. Let your child wear the shirt backwards if that will make life easier while you’re involved in a holiday task.
- Your child is always watching you and modeling your behaviors. Make a point of demonstrating actions of kindness or being a good listener while your child is watching.
- Spend some time each day thinking about the things that make you thankful, especially over the holidays. Studies show that this can increase your happiness, which can reduce your stress level as a parent.
