We have been waiting all year for this and finally the holiday season is here! We have prepared so much and made many plans for enjoying this time with our loved ones, friends and family. While in a perfect world out toddlers would be on their best behavior, we are gonna have to be realistic. Holiday's and change of routines can be rough for everyone, toddlers especially. Lets recognize all the factors that can have an effect on a toddler's behavior. Change in schedule might mean different nap, sleep, and eating routines. The hustle and bustle might limit expected attention from mommy and daddy. Guests or visiting others might introduce new and unfamiliar suroundings and people. The foods your toddler is used to eating might suddenly be replaced with something undesirable. If we consider all the changes happening in a toddler's world in this short time it will be easy to understand if his behavior is not exactly the "best" we have ever seen.
Ways to help decrease some of the holiday stress on toddlers is:
1) Trying to keep to the schedule as much as possible.
2) Bring favorite foods with you if you are visiting others, or offer these favorites at home holiday meals.
3) Napping and eating before going out when possible
4) Try to keep some 1:1 time with your toddler or facilitate transitioning to a new place by taking the time needed until your toddler is comfortable in their new suroundings.
5) Encourage others to respect the toddlers boundaries such as reading cues of he does not want to be picked up or kissed by strangers.
6) Most important : Just understanding why this season might be tough on your Toddler and adjust your expectations.
Happy Holidays!!!!!!
