Tips for Peace, Love and Harmony in your home this Holiday Season

WRITTEN BY CINDY BALLEW

The holidays are full of joy, excitement and storybook family closeness, right? Sometimes.

And sometimes the endless to-do lists, financial pressure, stresses and losses within families can be exacerbated during the holidays and overwhelming for parents. Children can pick up on the stress of their parents, and they also have their own stresses, such as lost sleep, too much stimulation and dealing with unmet expectations. Yikes. It can be a lot to navigate.

How do we celebrate, have fun with our kids and keep ourselves in the holiday spirit? Here are some tried and true ways to make the holidays more enjoyable.

1. Stick to routines as much as you can. Keep bedtime consistent and be sure everyone is getting enough sleep. Create a quiet home environment in the evening to wind down and prepare for bed. This will help your child replenish their energy and keep their emotions regulated.

2. Eat healthy. Balance all the holiday sweets with plenty of fruits, vegetables and protein to counteract the sugar. Everyone will feel better.

3. Prepare your child for upcoming events and changes in their schedule. Talking with them ahead of time about things that are out of the ordinary, like travel or visitors, will help them feel more prepared and less likely to melt down.

4. Carve out time for one-on-one connection with your child. Even 10 minutes of your undivided attention makes a difference in how secure a child feels during what can feel like upheaval during the holidays. Relax and play, read a book, take a walk or just snuggle and chat to keep your bond strong.

5. Practice gratitude. Talk about what you are grateful for as a family to put the focus on the true meaning of the holidays instead of materialism. Start a gratitude journal where everyone can write what they are thankful for each day. What a wonderful family memento.

6. Embrace the winter weather and get outside. Fresh air, sunshine and physical activity will reduce stress and help everyone sleep better.

7. Give back. Volunteer as a family at a place that has meaning for you, like a food bank, shelter or organization collecting toys for children. Giving to others promotes happiness and feelings of well-being and teaches your child to look out for others.

8. Manage the expectations your children have for what they will receive for gifts. Be positive, but honest. Let them know it’s really fun to make a list but they probably won’t get everything on it. Most kids don’t, and that’s OK.

Know that your best is good enough. Go easy on yourself. Hallmark perfection is a myth. So forget about making the third batch of cookies or wrapping each gift like it’s being judged in a show. Take time to savor all that’s good. Enjoy the lights and the music and the essence of the season. Breathe and make a snowman with your kids. That’s where you will find peace, love and harmony.

Cindy Ballew is a Program Manager at Thrive. For more parenting support, reach out to Thrive at www.allthrive.org.