Helping Children Manage Holidays

By Gail Troussoff Marks

As gymnastics teachers,we see the excitement level in children escalate from Thanksgiving through the New Year. Here are some ideas for understanding and managing the holiday season.
Factors such as changes in routine andweather, as well as heightened sensory stimuli contribute to childrens increasing excitability.When a childs sensory system gets overloaded, behavior oftensuffers. Holiday activities, school vacation days, travel, and out-of-town visitors impact our daily schedules. Different smells,foods, clothes, and the changing weather impact our sensory system. Even different sights and sounds can affect sensitive children.So, while variety is the spice of life, learning to relish and manage that variety is a skill that children need help learning.
Overcommitted schedules and a non-stop pace of life are typical throughout America and especially common in the Washington area.The holiday months ratchet this pace up even more. Physical activity is an excellent outlet for pent up energy and the stress of being always “on the go.”During this busy time it is important to keep scheduled activities, because that keeps the child anchored.
Making sure that children get to gymnastics class and has opportunities for physical activity, gives them a positive way to releasetension. Movement is an efficient, healthy method of managing stress and our children do experience stress and tension. For instance, jumping on the trampoline provides rhythm and deep pressure, which is calming and organizing for many children. Proper amounts of sleep help children cope; so try to maintain sleep schedules in this busy time.
Foods and eating times become less regular,and food grabbed quickly in the holiday bustle is oftenless nutritious. Sweets are everywhere during the holidays. The sporadic eating schedules may leave a child too hungry at one moment and too full the next. Grandparents or other relatives may have different rules regarding eating and that can create tension.Also, along with the foods come smells, which may be wonderfully pungent to adults and overwhelming to kids.
Christmas and Hanukkah are wonderful holidays and children anticipate them eagerly. However,these celebrations come with challenges. Wearing that special outfit that mom or grandma bought can be scratchy and uncomfortable. Dress shoes with tights or stockingscan get itchy and turn a childs mood sour.Traveling and staying in relatives homes or hotels requires adaptation. Even if you stay home,coping with relatives in your home may be difficult for children. Older people have different habits and other visiting children may want toys that your child isnt ready to share. Even an increased noise level in your home can be stressful.
Understanding and willingness to think and plan ahead will enable everyone to enjoy the holiday season.