During the holiday season, we imagine incredible wafting aromas, long awaited visits with family and friends, crunching leaves, falling snow, joy, laughter and…
…whining and fighting—not so much!
Holidays can also bring with them higher stress levels. At Crossroads Family Counseling Center, we specialize in supporting families through every season of the year. Here are some tips that may be helpful:
· Think about what’s most important to your family and how to put the needs of your family first. Let others know in advance to give them time to adjust.
· Watch overscheduling. Children often get cranky when they have to rush from place to place.
· Build in time for normal routines, unstructured playtime for kids, i.e. “downtime”.
· Include kids in age-appropriate ways---cooking, family traditions, faith traditions, etc.
· Simplify. Sometimes less is better. A handmade gift by a child can be both less expensive and more meaningful than something purchased at the store.
· Take time to unplug: play some family games, do a craft or spend extra time reading to the kids.
If your family is in transition or is experiencing separation or divorce, this brings a unique set of stressors to the holiday season. Remember that children experience security from seeing mom and dad respect each other even when they don’t live in the same house anymore.
Crossroads Family Counseling Center wants to wish you a happy and blessed holiday season, from our playroom to yours!
FAMILY PLAY ACTIVITY FOR THE MONTH: Design a family holiday banner to display in your home. Make it out of felt or poster board. Decorate it with pictures or symbols that are important to your family this holiday. Let your imagination soar and have fun!
