5 Ways to Enjoy the Holidays with Your Toddler
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Supposedly. But why is it that there are more meltdowns than we care to count? Holiday seasons can be rough for families, especially with younger kids in the mix, and tons of families and friends you don’t get to meet all the time. Here are some five ways for you, the amazing caregiver, to hopefully enjoy the festive season with your little ones.
And remember, all feelings are welcome, whether from an adult or a child. A few meltdowns are welcome here. And so without further ado, let’s dive into those tips.
1. Identify what are the rules you want for your family.
As early as now, it’s ideal for you to establish what are the boundaries you wish to set for your family. Among the list are stuff such as what comments you’re not willing to slide, what traditions you wish to set for your family, and who are the people you wish to expose to your children.
Every family is unique and has their own set of boundaries, so it’s good to reflect and ideally discuss with your partner (if you’re lucky to have a partner in this) how you wish for your holidays to look like with your children. Santa or no Santa, what’s important is the traditions of giving and the heart that your children will feel.
2. Prep. Prep. Even more prep.
This might be a no-brainer but there are always so many things that you might miss to prep your child with. Even the smallest things such as who they’ll be meeting, the unwanted gifts they might be receiving, the food they might end up throwing, the games they might find overwhelming. Remember, the more details, the better they will deal.
If you’ll be celebrating somewhere other than your home, when you reach there, have them get familiarized with everything and the few key people they need to know. This would involve a tour together of perhaps where the toilet, play area, and their things would be kept.
3. Let your kids know how to check in with you.
One of the best tools to give your children is the words they’d need to tell you if they’re feeling overwhelmed, tired, or just need more time to warm up. Even if they’re non-verbal, you can also teach them some sign language to let you know that they just need your presence.
Don’t immediately expect your kids to start playing, even if it’s with regular playmates, and that there might be some resistance to separate from you. If they know how to get to you when they need you, this might lessen the chances of them melting down or throwing unwanted attitudes in front of guests.
4. Schedule in rest and downtime.
Whether you’re on vacation or simply partying it up from one location to another, it is crucial to still schedule some time to rest for your little ones, no matter if they continue to refuse them. If possible, request hosts to consider your little one’s naptime, and depending on the situation, leave or arrive depending on your kid’s temperaments and rest.
Let your kids also have the time to decompress from one event to another. Schedule time to play, or to slow down. Let them enjoy the gifts they receive, or just get bored together. Holidays are not about squeezing in as much activity as you can together, but about the time spent together, even if it’s virtually nothing.
5. Give your child and yourself grace.
When adults get overwhelmed, we can be more forgiving about their grumpiness. I hope the rule applies as well to your kids, and that you, as the parent, remember that they’re still learning. They might still cry, be more clingy, and more grumpy. Nevertheless, continue to parent the way you parent despite the season (which is hopefully respectful).
Remind yourself that the holidays are more about basking in each others’ presence and that if plans change, or go awry, that’s okay too. And should you also lose your tempers or have a meltdown, there’s this magical thing called repair. Take advantage of it, and move forward to do better next time by having a plan for next time.
We wish you a very Merry Christmas for those celebrating them! And no matter how your holidays might look like, we wish you strength, compassion, and love as you face the year ending, together with your loved ones. May you hug your kids extra tight, for they won’t be so little for long.
Cheering for you in this parenting journey we have together,
Kristine
