Seven Ways to Make Holidays for Young Children Less Stressful for Everyone
Our first vacation with our son was difficult. We were visiting family in a different time zone and he was ready for his usual bedtime while everyone else began enjoying the holiday meal. There was a sense of isolation and we missed out on a lot of family traditions that year.
During the busy holiday season, it’s easy to focus on preparing your home for family and friends, but forget about the needs of the little guests who will come with them. Young children may feel overwhelmed by unfamiliar surroundings, especially if you don’t see them often, and their parents may be worried about managing their children’s routines away from home.
Here are some simple things you can do to help kids (and their parents) feel more comfortable staying at your home during the holidays, allowing them to focus on the excitement of the season.
Make basic childproofing
If your nieces or nephews tend to walk around on all fours and grab everything they can, take a few simple precautions to keep your holiday decor safe. Parents will appreciate it, I assure you.
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Place fragile ornaments higher up on the tree.
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Keep wires and cords hidden or taped to the floor to prevent tripping hazards.
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Cover all electrical outlets and consider installing protective covers on floor-level cabinets (especially if they contain cleaning products or other potentially hazardous materials).
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Keep holiday plants such as mistletoe out of reach as they can cause stomach upset if swallowed . You can also use artificial plants instead.
Ask about daily routine, allergies and food restrictions.
This is where things could have been done differently when my own son was a baby. Hosts who are attentive to visiting parents and their young child’s schedule can help these guests feel more involved in the holiday. While you don’t have to overhaul your holiday plans, a simple conversation with parents about their child’s daily routine, allergies or food restrictions can go a long way toward ensuring everyone enjoys the holiday and will help prevent any last-minute trips to the grocery store on a snowy Christmas Eve.
Welcome children with a welcome basket
For young people, staying in someone else’s house during the holidays may seem strange. Sometimes all it takes is a small gesture of kindness to make them feel welcome. One idea is to create a basket filled with inexpensive toys and treats, such as those found at the dollar store or in front of the nearest target. This gesture can also keep the kids entertained while you meet your favorite relatives.
Breaking the game
If small children stay with you for a few days, they will most likely ask if you have any toys or games, or worse, start looking for them in your house without permission. If they’re staying in the guest room, make it easier for them to find one by placing a few of your items on their bed so they can play while they wait for Santa to arrive.
Create a play area for your party
Throwing a Christmas party doesn’t mean you have to exclude little guests. We thought we wouldn’t be able to attend one for a while once we had children, so we were pleasantly surprised when we received an invitation to a Christmas party saying children were welcome. When we arrived, we found that the owner had thoughtfully set up a child-proof play area filled with coloring books, crafts and toys, allowing us to take turns socializing while the kids were occupied.
Let parents (and their children) know that it’s okay if they make a mess.
I will always remember enjoying Thanksgiving with a dear friend (who is also a parent) when my oldest was just two years old. Before we arrived, we spent a lot of time packing everything we could so our son wouldn’t make a mess or have a tantrum during dinner, as we didn’t want to overstay our welcome.
When we sat down at their dinner table, there was a note on my son’s plate that essentially said, “Be as loud and messy as you want. We want you to feel welcome.” One small note went a long way towards making us feel welcome rather than forced upon us. Since we’ve been hosting our own family gatherings ever since, I’ve made it a point to extend the same kindness to everyone who enters our home, understanding that any mess can be easily cleaned up.
Let the young guests help decorate
My mother-in-law often flies to craft stores and always has crafts in stock for my kids to make to decorate her home. When the first one is finished, there is somehow another art project waiting for her. Soon the house is decorated for the holidays with things my kids have made and want to show off. This act brings joy to my mother-in-law and makes her home feel like theirs, and that’s what the holidays are all about, right?