Christmas With Kids: Some Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday!

Christmas can be a big stressor for families. It is supposed to be a happy and relaxed time, but the demands on parents can quickly sap all enthusiasm. There is a reason they call it the silly season! Over-excited children become tired and cranky and this can be overwhelming for parents. Here are some great strategies for keeping things positive this Christmas.

1. Let Go!

Parents often have high expectations of perfect behaviour during holiday gatherings, and it creates a lot of stress and pressure. Let yourself relax and enjoy Christmas by taking the pressure off for the day. Maybe your child cannot be corralled into greeting your relatives, or perhaps they don’t feel like wearing the Christmas dress you specifically purchased. This Christmas, give yourself the gift of letting go!

2. Strive for Connection, not Perfection

Is the toy store sold out of that must-have gift? Or maybe you just don’t have the time to put up all 1000 Christmas decorations this year! Don’t worry about keeping up with the latest trends or running yourself down doing more than you can realistically handle! In ten-years’ time, your children won’t remember every gift they received. But the memories of a loving Christmas surrounded by family and friends will last a lifetime.

The holidays can be a wonderful time to build memories and being deliberate in how you connect with your children can make it truly magical.

3. Pencil in Some Downtime!

Christmas day is a busy time and can become overwhelming for children (and parents!). When coming up with your day's events, make sure you schedule some downtime. Even a short break can help your children to recharge and save you from temper tantrums later on. Some might even like to schedule a post-lunch nap!

Bush Babies Nurseries would like to wish all of our families a wonderful, relaxing and stress-free Christmas period. Please get in touch for any enquiries regarding care for 2019!