The holidays are wonderful for spending more time with your family. No matter what you celebrate, chances are your kids will be home for a week or two, and while that’s great for bringing everyone closer together, that kind of step back from the regular routine can lead to some behavior challenges.
If you’ve noticed that your children seem to have more of an attitude or are more demanding around the holiday season, you’re not alone. Behavior challenges are fairly common this time of year.
But, why is that? Furthermore, what can you do to handle those challenges so everyone can enjoy the season together?
The Challenges of Disrupted Routines
The holidays can be a time of dysregulation for kids. They’re out of their normal routine, for starters. On top of that, your days might be filled with anything from visiting family in another state to having people over to your house. You might even plan out some fun family events together. While all of those are great for your kids, they provide the kind of uncertain excitement that can cause behaviors to shift.
In addition to a lack of routine, there’s a lot of anticipation and distractions around the holidays. Your kids might be excited to see certain relatives. They’re probably even more excited to get gifts, eat certain foods, or do special activities. That kind of over-excitement could be what’s causing them to seem so rambunctious and have an attitude you’re not used to.
Does all of this mean you need to change your holiday plans? Absolutely not.
But, there are things you can do to handle behavior changes this season while continuing with traditions and enjoying a little bit of everything.
Establish a Routine
While your “holiday” routine might not be the same as every other day, it’s just as important to have one you can stick with over the next few weeks. That routine should include waking up at a certain time each day and going to bed at a certain time each night.
It might include daily chores or responsibilities, or maybe even a bit of school work to keep your kids’ minds fresh and focused.
Make a point of doing specific things every day, even if they’re not necessarily at the same time. For example, having dinner together each night can be a wonderful part of your routine that helps everyone to connect and establish a sense of comfort and security.
The holidays shouldn’t be a free-for-all when it comes to your kids’ schedule and routine. The more structure you can keep in place, the better.
Make the Unkown, Known
Another reason for behavior challenges is all the excitement and anticipation of the season.
It’s normal for kids to feel that way about the “magic” surrounding the holidays, and you certainly don’t have to take that way from them. After all, those feelings don’t last forever. But, too much anticipation can lead to behavioral issues.
Talk to your kids about what to expect throughout the holidays. Let them in on any events you might have planned, family members you’re going to see, or things you plan on doing each day.
By making the unknown known, you’ll take away just enough anticipation to keep your kids calmer without stripping away the magic of the season.
React Appropriately
There may be times throughout the season where, despite your best efforts, your child has a meltdown. Or, maybe they snap at you with a negative attitude.
When you’re already stressed about the holidays and you’ve had a hard time dealing with these behavioral challenges, your instinct might be to snap right back.
Instead, do your best to stay calm and respond rationally and specifically. Kids will be more likely to calm down and respond in a more positive way when you model the right kind of behavior.
This season might be stressful in other ways, but behavioral challenges don’t have to derail everything. Keep these ideas in mind to make the most of the season and enjoy the holidays with your kids.
If your child is struggling to regulate during the holidays and you want more information on how to help, feel free to contact me.