Try these ideas and hopefully this year you can really enjoy a Happy Holiday Season!

    Turkey time is almost here.  So can Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa be far behind?  You may already be picturing the moment when your 3-year-old climbs onto Santa’s lap for a Christmas wish, a “ho-ho-ho” and a priceless photo op.  But all too often, a small child who comes face-to-face with a white bearded stranger in a bright red suit is seized with terror and refuses to continue.  And just like that, the magic turns to mayhem.  Your child is on the verge of a classic, stress-induced public meltdown. Take cover! 

Families face a lot of extra demands on their time and energy during the holidays.  Parents tend to have higher expectations about having a good time, and children are quick to pick up their parent’s added stress.  Parents may try to do too much during the holiday period between Thanksgiving and New Years.  On top of this overload of activities, bright lights, noisy crowds, and waiting in line can throw even the most smooth-tempered child into a holiday tailspin.

No matter how much a parent prepares, difficult situations still arise.  A major cause of holiday meltdowns is the materialism that runs rampant this time of year.  Lets see your child sees a TV advertisement for the season’s hottest toy, the Gazookie.  Before you know it, he bursts into the kitchen saying (what else?), “Mommy, Daddy, I want a Gazookie! Pleeeeese?”  Gazookie mania can become a full-blown temper tantrum in the Gazookie aisle of your local toy store.  The “gimme-gimme symdrome” can bring about intense frustration for Mom and Dad.  But the gimmes can provide also a teaching opportunity.  Sometimes a compromise is possible – one action figure instead of ten!  Also consider whether the toy might have a valuable role in your child’s play.  But the best intentioned thinking can’t always fend off a in-store meltdown.  If your child loses it, calmly remind her why you are there, saying “We can either get what we came for or we can leave with nothing.”  Most children, intuitive materialists that they are, will choose something over nothing.

Shop-till-you-drop marathons are particularly potent meltdown makers.  Parents need to be mindful of their child’s limitations.  With a demanding holiday schedule it’s easy to overtax a child’s coping skills.  In general, a tired preschooler at day’s end is never going to be at his best in a restaurant or store that offers any sort of temptations.  It’s best to plan these outings earlier in the day, when your child is fresh.  If you do find yourself in a meltdown situation, it is appropriate to leave the scene as quickly as possible. Either for good or until your child is calm.  Offering a distraction, such as a book or some markers and paper, can also get your child back on an even keel. 

For visits or trips, keep a bag of tricks handy for slow periods and to reward good behavior.  Include a special snack and a surprise game or book.  Find some special quiet time daily to hold your child and rock her on your lap.  One-on-one cuddling is particularly soothing for your child and yourself.  Involve kids in holiday responsibilities like coloring place cards, and decorating a package with stick-on stars.  They like the feeling of being helpers.  Add come music to your child’s day.  Whether it’s seasonal sing-along songs in the car or a lullaby at bedtime, music is relaxing.

 adapted from Sesame Street Workshop Parent Pages