There are few things as exciting for children as holidays. Here's how you can manage their excitement without dampening their spirits, and without losing out on the fun and festivities yourself.
37-year-old Janhavi, mother of five year old twins, was traveling to Dubai with her entire family, including parents, cousins, siblings and their families and children, for a wedding. Naturally there was a lot of excitement in the air, but though various other couples were bringing their little children along, Janhavi refused to do so. She wanted to have a nice holiday with her parents, without the hassle of managing her incredibly naughty children. So she enrolled them in classes, left them in the care of her mother in law, and left for Dubai. However, instead of having a wonderful time, she missed her children, and could not let go the feeling of guilt that they were at home, while she was holidaying without them. She had never done it before, but thought she deserved a break, but she regretted her decision, and swore never to go for long holidays without them.
There are few things as exciting for children as holidays, summer or winter, and winter holidays come with a charm of their own, bringing promises of White Christmases for some, travel for some, and family weddings for others. Here's how you can manage their excitement without dampening their spirits, and without losing out on the fun and festivities yourself.
Here are some tips on how to cope with children on holidays, so you and your children have a wonderful time.
1. Keep your child's routine stable. Just because they are on holiday should not mean that they can wake up at noon, lunch at tea time and so on. Bedtime, naptime, mealtimes and all other regular activities should be maintained as far as possible. You could let them sleep in for around half an hour to one hour more in the mornings, but no later. Routines maintain stability in their behaviour and helps contain some excitement.
2. Avoid extra snacks, cookies and candies. The rush and fall of sugar in a child's diet can cause both bursts of energy and fatigue as the sugar wears off. These highs and lows can lead to behaviour difficulties. If you want to give your child a treat, limit the size and consider offering it as a special dessert - after an appropriate meal.
3. If you take your child on shopping trips, limit the amount of time you are out and consider taking the stroller or allowing for breaks. Often, parents in India don't use strollers at all, tending to carry very small children in their arms, and making older children walk besides them. Not surprisingly, children start feeling cranky after a short while. Although you may think kids have more energy than you, they really do tire quickly from walking about a shopping mall. Take your children with you on a stroller, and you will be pleasantly surprised at their patience. Also, consider going out early in the day, before the stores get busy and crowded. Being in a noisy crowded space can be very overwhelming for young children.
4. Think safety. Use non-flammable and non-breakable decorations for your Christmas tree, or other decorations. With young children in the home, you may consider a special room for festivities with a door that can be closed to prevent the child from wandering in.
5. If you are out of town with other couples and their children, keep all their toys in one room, and let that be the play room, so they only need mess up that one room, and not the entire house.
T'is the season for fun and excitement. Parents who follow these tips may just find the season a little more manageable for themselves as well as their young child.
Do make it a safe holiday season!
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