How to Deal With Your Child’s Holiday Stress

If a caregiver sees changes in the child’s sleeping routine, eating habits, mood, or social interactions, they should inquire about the changes and, if necessary, consult with a specialist.

Keep in mind that many youngsters struggle with emotional language and may not be at a developmental level, where they can convey their emotional experiences. In certain cases, children may arrive with physical issues that are unrelated to a medical illness. Children who are stressed are more likely to complain about stomach aches, back pain, or headaches (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
A mental health expert at Rutgers discusses how adults can help children from feeling overwhelmed

).

They may begin to demonstrate stress-related behaviors such as:

• Tears for no reason or a small purpose
• Nail biting and hair twirling are examples of nervous behaviour
• Headaches and stomach problems are two of the most common physical concerns
• Bedwetting and temper outbursts are examples of regressive behavior
• Absence from school, friends, and family
• A noticeable shift in normal conduct

Top 7 Tips to Reduce Christmas Stress and Anxiety Among Children

Set expectations:

Be honest, practical, and frank about your expectations for holiday presents and activities, especially if money is an issue. Take advantage of this chance to teach your children the value of money and appropriate spending.

Teach the value of family and family traditions:

Family traditions provide youngsters with a sense of comfort and stability. What are your family’s customs? Maybe your family would want to make a holiday calendar or bake cookies together. Encourage children to regard the holidays as a precious opportunity to reconnect with family and friends.

Demonstrate Emotional Expression and Coping:

Caregivers are a child’s first teachers, and they are uniquely placed to teach and encourage them through difficult times. The caregiver can help the child’s emotional vocabulary by labeling their own experiences and supplying terms to the youngster when they are unsure what they are feeling. The caregiver can also normalize the idea that we must all work to preserve wellness by sharing their own needs, such as rest, and allowing the child to participate in coping activities with them, such as going for a walk, listening to music, or journaling. This will also help to reduce the stigma associated with talking about feelings and getting help (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
A mental health expert at Rutgers discusses how adults can help children from feeling overwhelmed

).

Maintain a routine:

Routines that work for the child and family should be kept since they contribute to a youngster’s sense of mastery and safety. If the current routines are causing undue stress, they can be re-imagined to better meet the family’s current requirements (3^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Could holiday stress be affecting your child’s holiday joy?

).

Avoid over-scheduling:

Adults struggle to manage the stress and tiredness that comes with being overbooked, and children are no exception. Caregivers can help exhausted youth by scheduling time for recuperation and creating stricter boundaries around their time by saying ‘no’.

Encourage movement:

Allowing youngsters to overindulge in technology such as television and games might be tempting, especially during the winter months. Maintaining physical activity, on the other hand, is not only beneficial to a child’s physical health, but it is also an effective tool for managing stress and relieving tension in the body.

Choose a family activity that will benefit others:

Select toys for a toy drive. Go through your closet and donate nicely used clothes to a shelter or clothing drive. Donating money to causes is always a good idea, but search for activities in which your children can actively engage, preferably as a family. Try not to think of it as yet another household task. Instead, consider it an opportunity to not just teach kindness, but also to maintain perspective on the holidays – and on what is far more important than gifts or parties (2^✔ ✔Trusted Source
7 ways to prevent holiday stress – for your children

).

Activities to Reduce Holiday Stress in Children

Babies and toddlers:

Holiday stress is primarily caused by disrupting children’s routines and predictability. Plan activities around sleep and feeding periods. Maintain as typical a bedtime routine as feasible. Look for indicators of stress and exhaustion in your child, such as fussiness, ear pulling, and clinging. When you run errands or travel, bring your child’s favorite blanket or stuffed animal with you. A little piece of home can help to alleviate your child’s Christmas stress.

Children at preschool:

These children are old enough to understand the joy and anticipation that comes with holiday celebrations. They can, however, readily become overstimulated. This results in frustrated tears and a possible reversion to younger behaviors. To avoid hunger-related tantrums, keep lots of healthful snacks on hand when shopping or visiting. During these trying times, be patient. Remember that after the holidays are gone, things will get better.

Older children:

Extracurricular activities throughout the Christmas season can be extremely stressful. Keep an eye out for symptoms of anxiety or overwhelm in your child, such as stomach problems, headaches, exhaustion, and/or nervous habits like nail biting. Make every effort to ensure that your youngster receives enough rest and eats frequently. Allow them to express how they feel and what you can do to make them feel more at ease.

Laughter:

It lowers stress and shifts everyone’s mood from negative to positive. Lighten the mood with amusing movies or nice conversations over hot chocolate. Remember to include the marshmallows!

Find ways to deal with your personal Christmas stress. The less stressed you are during the holidays, the more relaxed your children will be. Plan ahead of time while remaining adaptable. Do not overbook your time or take on obligations you do not want to do. Sit quietly and consider what the holidays truly mean to you, then base your decisions on your core values.

References :

1. A mental health expert at Rutgers discusses how adults can help children from feeling overwhelmed – (https://www.rutgers.edu/news/kids-get-holiday-stress-too)
2. 7 ways to prevent holiday stress – for your children – (https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/7-ways-prevent-holiday-stress-children-2017112812809)
3. Could holiday stress be affecting your child’s holiday joy? – (https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/childrens-health/could-holiday-stress-be-affecting-your-childs-holiday-joy)

Source: Medindia