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Help Your Child Cope with Holiday Stress
Everyone knows that the holidays present additional stresses on already stretched families. Managing finances, time and emotions becomes particularly challenging. Children will pick up on the increased stress on you and start to show signs that they are also feeling overwhelmed and anxious.
Some indicators that your child is feeling holiday stress:
- Crying more often for no apparent and/or minor reason
- Complaints like stomach aches and/or headaches
- New behaviors like nail biting or chewing on sleeves, collars, etc...
- Regressing developmentally - bed wetting, biting, etc...
Some ways to manage this stress:
- Stick to a routine as much as possible
- Start preparing early by choosing a few things each weekend to accomplish
- Make sure your child is getting plenty of nutritious foods and drink
- Spend time talking about your families holiday traditions and their importance
- Make time for the fun stuff - holiday movies, sledding, hot chocolate and reading a special book
- Make sure you are managing your own stress - the happier you are, the happier your children will be!
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