Throughout the holiday season, the UNMC Wellness Team will be offering regular wellness advice in UNMC Today. The team is comprised of Priya Gearin, MD, Sarah Fischer, PhD, and Steve Wengel, MD. Dr. Gearin is an assistant professor in the UNMC Department of Psychiatry and a child psychiatrist with Nebraska Medicine.
The holiday season can bring both excitement and challenges to parents. Families often experience change in their schedule this time of year, with unique circumstances for those with babies and toddlers, school-age children and adult children.
Whether you are traveling, navigating social gatherings or working on a tight budget, hopefully these tips will help remind you that you can create your own traditions and memories that work best for your family.
Parents may feel pressure to keep up with perceived expectations for what the holidays should look like. This can mean spending extra time and money buying gifts, decorating the home or splurging on other holiday activities.
While these are often part of holiday traditions, remember that children will often remember the special time together rather than a particular toy or video game or a picture-perfect home. You may consider activities that are budget-friendly, such as doing a jigsaw puzzle, playing festive music or taking turns choosing a family-friendly holiday movie.
Consider your own favorite childhood memories from the holidays; many people recall memories with friends and family.
When it comes to gift-giving for your children’s teachers, simple is often best. My own mom has been a daycare teacher for more than 20 years, and she has said her most treasured gifts are cards with a short, hand-written message. Consider gifting one of your child’s drawings, with a few words about how that teacher has helped your child.
If you are looking to purchase a gift, some schools and daycares may post lists of teachers’ favorite items. Using these lists can not only make your life less stressful, but it also can reduce waste by limiting unwanted or unneeded gifts.
For families with younger children or children with special needs, there may be more anxiety related to schedule changes and large gatherings.
For many children, even toddlers, telling them ahead of time what is going to happen and who they are going to see can help prepare them for changes to routine. Consider reading books about holiday traditions that are pertinent to your family so children have some context for what they are experiencing.
For children who still nap, flexibility is key. Remember it is common for naps to be disrupted during holidays, and if it’s a priority for you or your child, identify a quiet place ahead of time where you can put them down for a nap.
Over time, your holiday traditions may grow and change. It is okay to set limits on what your family is able or willing to do year to year, depending on your finances, health status or distance from relatives. Keep in mind that as your children grow into teens and young adults, it is developmentally normal for them to spend more time with peers.
Be open about what holiday activities are most important to each of you and work on finding compromise if there is a conflict in schedules.