CHILD LIFE AND
psychology
LYNN SANNE R Child Life Specialist and Educator, Department of Child Life at Cincinnati Children’s
Decide What’s Important to You
“Most of us are already leading very full lives just taking care of our work and our families,” says Sanner. “The holidays can add another layer of responsibility to what we already do.”
Putting more meaning into your
HOLIDAYS Most people love celebrating holidays – time to be with family and friends, enjoy special foods and observe family traditions. But holidays can also bring the pressure to do more and spend more than we are willing or able. If holidays leave you feeling stressed out, there are ways to set limits and make the time more meaning ful, says Lynn Sanner, a child life specialist and educator in the Department of Child Life at Cincinnati Children’s.
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Talk with your family about what is most meaningful and beneficial about your holiday observance, she suggests. “Choose two or three things about the holiday that your family cares about most, and limit your activities to those things.”
Take Time for Your Health
Sanner says it’s especially important to take time for healthy activity during the holiday season. “Eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep – all of those things are threatened if we overdo it during the holidays,” Sanner says. And make sure kids stick to predictable routines and regular schedules, especially while school is in session. “School holiday concerts and parties can be great fun, but they can also be disruptive to homework and home routines.”
Rethink Your Giving
Everyone enjoys giving gifts to those they care about. Gifts can take many forms, says Sanner. “The most valuable gifts come from creativity – things
we’ve made or words we give to people,” she says. A handmade note to a teacher from your child about something he really enjoyed doing in school, or doing something thoughtful for a neighbor or friend, can be precious gifts.
Volunteering
Giving back to the community is a great idea. “But agencies get a lot of offers of help at holiday time, and what they need is help in August,” she says. “For a young child, it is probably most effective to provide service specifically at holiday time. Older children may be happy to consider what they can do later in the year.”
Give Kids an 'Out'
To help children set limits during the holidays, a little creative license may be in order, says Sanner. You may help your child decline invitations to become too busy, perhaps by using a response such as “My mom says I’m not allowed to.” “This phrase provides a really good shelter for kids,” Sanner says.
It Doesn't Last Forever
Most important, she says, “Know that whatever you do for your family’s holiday is enough. Enjoy the parts of your holiday that you care about the most and let go of the things that don’t really matter.” n