Practical Parenting

by Crystal Linn

 

Crystal Linn is a childcare expert and a professional writer. She is co-founder of
C and C Educational Consultants, a Bothell-based company that works with childcare professionals and also offers children's workshops and parenting classes. Crystal enjoys reading mysteries, writing poetry and sailing. She would love to hear from you at candceducationalconsultants@gmail.com or at (206) 715-2505.

In this week's column, I simply want to share some basic thoughts and ideas that all of you parents could use in making holidays calmer for children and for yourselves.

As much as possible, keep children on their schedule as schedules and routines give children stability, especially younger children. If you know that they will eat their evening meal later than normal, give them a light snack at their normal meal time, making sure it contains protein and a complex carbohydrate.

If your children will be going to a holiday party and/or to a meal where they will be consuming large amounts of sugar-laden foods, be sure and give them a high protein snack ahead of time.

For those late night parties, celebrations and ceremonies, make sure your children have ample rest earlier in the day. For younger children, this may mean a longer nap. For older children, it may simply mean that they have some 'down time' where they read or draw. If any one of your children are at one of those stages where they say, "But I don't want to" and/or "I don't need to," a good comeback is to say that while they do not need the down time, you need for them to have it. Many times I myself have said this, or something similar, to a child as this line of reasoning works well.

Allow your children to help with the preparations as much as is appropriate for their age. This allows them to feel validated, gives all of you more family time, and means less for you to do by yourself.

These suggestions cannot guarantee the perfect, stress-free holiday but they can definitely contribute to a more manageable holiday season.

Best wishes and Happy Holidays to all of you.

To your parenting success,

Crystal

Quotable Parenting Quote:

Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your home. Give love to your children, to a wife or husband, to a next-door neighbor - Mother Teresa