Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress
December 2015
How to get started:
Understand the child’s stage of development.
Inventory the child’s strengths and weaknesses.
Focus on the child’s interest areas and strengths.
Calming activities
Children cannot turn down their
energy level quickly. Help them with calming techniques: slowly lower your
voice to a near whisper, make eye contact, dim lights, play soft music, show
them how to breathe slowly, read to them, stretching exercises and joint
pressure/rubs. Television during the holiday season can over-stimulate children
more than usual because the commercials are geared to distract their attention
and play on their emotions. Less TV is
best.
Set a playful tone
1.
Children learn best when they are relaxed and know they
are loved.
2.
When you are having fun your child will also.
3.
Take time every day to laugh. It reduces stress and
increases your overall health.
Shopping strategies: scavenger hunts and shopping lists
1.
Children love to hunt for things. This can help you
when travelling, shopping or waiting for an appointment.
2.
Have children categorize/organize their hunts by
interest areas or topics. (ie. vehicles types, animals, shapes, ABC’s, their
favorite color, number…)
3.
Children can list or draw pictures of what they want to
find on their hunt so they can record what they find as they go. This keeps
them actively engaged along the way.
4.
Use a camera (real or pretend) for the child to take a
photo of the items on their hunt.
5.
Collect interesting items (trash or natural) for
creative projects.
Health, movement and exercise
1.
Children need 10-12 hours of sleep each day.
2.
Holidays are full of extra rich, high calorie foods.
Provide your child with a simple, nutritious daily diet to give them the fuel
their body needs.
3.
Children need physical outlets often. Take lots of
breaks and burn energy in fun ways.
4.
Run, skip, hop, dance, stretch, isometrics (body weight
resistance), lifting or pushing heavy things can be done in very limited space.
Use your imaginations and get ‘double’ the benefit.
Mind games for quiet times
Imagine with your child some of his
favorite activities. Encourage her to visualize a “picture in her mind” and
describe it. Ask him what color, temp, flavor, size, shape etc… Who else is there? ” Draw it.
Music
1.
Children listen more effectively when music is
involved. Give singing instructions.
2.
Make music together often regardless of ability just
for fun!
3.
Set your daily routines to a familiar tune and then
sing yourselves through the day. “clean up, now it’s time to brush our teeth,
get dressed, buckle our seatbelt etc..”
Art
Carry with you an art backpack full
of art materials for instant open-ended creating.
Dramatic play
1.
Children process information through dramatic play.
Allow time for unstructured play every day. Watch and enjoy!
2.
Role playing/rehearsals for special events. If you want
your child to behave in a certain way you must teach them and practice ahead of
time.
Parents:
Take care
of yourselves too! Be patient, kind and
forgiving of yourself. Count your
blessings and be at peace with all that is your life…. even the messy,
imperfect parts. You are one-of-a-kind
and the most important person in your child’s life. You are enough and all your child needs.
Peace and love,
Becky
