Toddlers and Christmas: How To Deal With Holiday Overwhelm
Christmas is the season for children.
Between the ages of one and three, children respond and enjoy the colors, lights, and cheer that characterize the Christmas season.
Toddlers love Christmas.
At the same time, however, it can be an overwhelming and daunting experience for both children and adults when dealing with the pressures of family, friends, presents, and that strange dude in the red outfit.
Children and parents can benefit from being prepared for the season.
Santa Clause
Santa is a big deal. Beyond the questions of whether or not a parent chooses to be involved in the Santa myth, Santa is out there, and kids will experience him.
For young children, this is a large man with a lot of facial hair and some pretty bright clothes.
Remember that while an adult may take joy in the myth and the man, a young child may find him confusing and downright scary.
By all means, take the child to see Santa, but just don’t expect a picture-perfect moment.
If a child backs away, give the child the room to make a choice.
A child will let the world know if this is too much for him or her, and parents need to not force the issue. Remember, there is always next year.
Family, Friends, and Holiday Cheer
Along with the holidays come family parties, dinners with friends, and lots of excitement. Remember that kids can tolerate lots of fun, but sometimes the fun can become too big.
Often there are just too many people touching, kissing, and expecting too much from young kids.
Parents should make sure there is enough downtime in the schedule for them and their children.
Don’t be afraid to find a quiet space at a party or stop in the middle of the day itself to pull out one of the many Christmas board books and take some downtime with a child.
A short book with bright photos and a few words can be a calming influence on an over-excited child.
The child will love the individual attention that comes with reading and will appreciate the quiet that comes within all the noise.
Gift giving is great fun with kids.
Everyone loves to see the child’s face as he or she opens a gift.
Remember, however, that often it is a lot to take in, especially for toddlers.
Presents given are often not able to be opened and unpacked at the moment, and this can be frustrating for the child.
Carry a few new small toys to the party so that the child can fiddle with something interesting while waiting to get home and unpack that new truck or doll with a million pieces.
Follow the Child’s Lead
Remember that Christmas often involves many people who, while related to the child, are not the day to day guests.
Uncle so and so maybe the life of the party, but he has only met the child twice since birth and may not conjure up pleasant memories for the child automatically.
Give kids a chance to warm up to people before asking them to hug, kiss, and get cuddled by people who are, in reality, strangers to the child.
Worry less about offending adults in question and listen to the signals the child is giving to Mom.
Most adults will understand that some toddlers are, by nature, not ready for such intimacy so quickly and will be more than happy to settle for a friendly wave.
Schedules and Routines
Try to keep to a schedule. Adjust nap times to compensate for late nights.
Bring baggies of familiar food and snacks that kids can enjoy and be comfortable with. Feed the child as close to schedule as possible.
Dress kids in holiday finery, but ensure that the clothes are well-fitting and comfortable and not too foreign to their usual manner of dressing.
Remember that while that red velvet, a floor-length dress may look awesome, a child may not feel awesome in it.
Christmas is For Kids
Keeping Christmas for kids requires adults to be mindful of what all this looks like to a little one.
Keep in mind that a giant tree, a large man in a red suit, and too many toys at one time can overwhelm a little one’s thought process.
Keep it simple and remember that Christmas comes and goes, but a child is forever.
Finally, never forget that there is always next year and a different stage of development to embrace within the holidays.
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