The holiday season can be filled with great joy and special moments for the whole family. And yet, so often, this is the time of year that kids tend to misbehave the most and cause disruption and stress at home, school…everywhere! Why is this?
Why?
Holiday Stress
With all our focus on the fun, good food, and special activities we’re planning, we can often forget that all this unusual holiday activity in a child’s life can actually cause a lot of stress. Disrupted schedules, new foods, new people visiting in the home, and late nights can be exciting for children—but they can also be stressful, causing them to misbehave.
Kids who are energetically sensitive or have ADHD tendencies are especially affected by disruptions in the family’s usual rhythms. It’s important to pay close attention to these children, if your holiday plans include a lot of new activities, places and people.
Four Tips For Parents
Maintain A Daily Routine
When our children are out of school or daycare, they often love their free time and the opportunity to spend more time at home. But too much free time can cause them stress. Make sure they have actual activities to keep them busy—and that they are supervised, if necessary.
Also, as much as possible, keep the schedule of activities in their lives such as bedtime, nap time, and meal times the same as always. Our children tend to respond well to the structure of a daily routine and knowing what is expected of them.
If you can’t keep their same daily routine, then let them know clearly what their new routine is going to be. And then stick to what you tell them, so they feel the security of the structure you’re providing. This will alleviate the usual reactions to stress, such as crankiness, oppositional behavior and moaping.
Get Enough Rest & Sleep
Another way to counteract holiday stress is to make sure both you and your children get enough rest and sleep. Avoid trying to squeeze everything that sounds like holiday fun into your schedule. In theory, this may sound great, but in practice, it can really take a toll on everyone. Doing fewer activities with more attention and love gives both you and your children time to truly enjoy and appreciate what you’re doing.
If you can, provide a period of quiet time every day for the whole family. Take naps when possible or quiet reading time. Stress—even the kind caused by fun and excitement—can be hard on the immune system.
Watch Sugar Intake
The holiday season is usually filled with good things to eat—especially foods with a lot of sugar. Sugar (and chocolate, in particular) can really get children hyper, which can drive everyone in the family crazy. But what can be even worse is the “sugar crash” they experience after the initial high. This generally results in a whole array of misbehaviors, such as crying, grouchiness, or a desire to fight with others.
Be sure to keep track of what your kids are eating and limit their sugar intake. If possible, prepare treats for them with other sweet ingredients, such as fruit or stevia.
Coaches and Karate Teachers Part of Your Support Team
Without question coaches and martial arts teachers are highly influencial when it comes to the behavior of our children. Why not schedule two to three sessions/classes per week, especially during the holidays, to give your child a safe, controlled and structured environment to expend their energy in? Many martial arts schools are open during the holidays for this very reason.
Remember, we will get through the holidays and with the right tools and support team, we will have less stress. :-) Good luck and happy “holidaying”!
– Peter Liciaga
—
Free Karate Classes For The Holidays
HOLIDAY KARATE PASS! Dinoto Karate Center in Mount Laurel NJ is offering free classes during the holidays as their gift to you, the parent. For more information, go HERE.
