You love being able to visit friends and family but you may not enjoy having your home life in an upheaval. There are parties to attend, shopping to get done and a house to decorate. When are you going to find the time for everything? How to stay organized and sane this holiday season? First and foremost, ensure you get enough rest throughout the holidays. If you’re not sleeping properly, you could become sleep deprived which will add to your stress level. Rather than staying late at holiday parties, it would be better to leave early so you can get your rest.
Then, make a master list of what you have to do for the holidays. Once you know everything that needs to be done in a given time you’ll be better prepared. Here are some things you may have on your list: Set a budget for the things you’ll spend over the holidays for gifts, postage, wrapping materials, food and beverages; starting your holiday preparation early; get your house cleaned up; and set some deadlines as to when you would like to have things done.
The holidays can get very busy for children. Driving to visit family members, hosting out-of-town visitors, and covering all the familial bases can result in children doing a lot of running around. Besides that, during this busy and sometimes emotional time of year, tweens and teens are sometimes torn between spending time with their friends and being with their families. Both types of relationships are important, but how can you find a balance? And how can you find some quality time to spend with your young children amid all the busy-ness of the holidays? Here are some tips.
1. Together is better
This can be a challenge for parents. But if you’re looking for ways to spend quality time with them, then all those necessary tasks are good places to look for ways to incorporate your kids. Young children can also be included in decorating and food preparation. Try to shift your focus from having everything look perfect to spending that quality time with your kids.
2. Make your hands work
Get together with your kids and set aside some time to hand-make decorations. You can make inedible dough ornaments, paper chains, swags, wreaths, paper snowflakes, and other decorations with your kids. Children especially love lights at holiday time – let them help you string them and arrange them inside and out. They can also shop with you for Halloween candy, or for the upcoming Christmas.
3. Start new habits
Children don’t necessarily need an elaborate, time-consuming activity; many times, the memory is what counts and simple activities can build lovely memories. For example, spend a morning making holiday cookies; or go looking for fresh greens to cut and weave wreaths together each year.
A holiday getaway – especially if it’s to a cabin or ski lodge where there’s no cell phone reception – may be just the thing to connect with your budding young adults. Starting new traditions helps bring families together.
4. Family-friendly
You can go caroling, visit shut-ins, volunteer at a homeless shelter, participate in a toy drive, or go on a fall foliage or holiday lights tour as a family. Include your children in these activities and teach them something about their community and needs of the other, all while getting to spend quality time with them.
Source: http://childdevelopmentinfo.com
Editor: Michael R. Clarke
