WASHINGTON — It’s the holiday season. Kids are excited and are making out their wish lists. Although it is a tradition, this is also a potential source of frustration and unhappiness. Children may be focused on one ideal gift they want and have certain expectations for this holiday season.
Some tips:
- Set the tone for the season. Parents set the attitudes for the holiday season such as gratitude, sharing and giving. You are the CEO, the Chief!
- Set an example. Your children will follow your example! If you keep focused on what’s important and are mindful about the goals and focus of your holiday, you probably won’t get off track. When your children see mom and dad calmly, confidently, leading the family through the holidays it reduces the chaos and stress of the holiday season.
- Giving. Make or buy gifts for others so your children learn the powerful feeling of giving at an early age. Your kids can experience the surprise, joy and gratitude when another person looks into their eyes and thanks them. Make some cookies or brownies. Give the inexpensive gift by writing a note on a card telling a neighbor, relative or friend, “I will wash your car, I will mow your lawn, I will babysit.”
Volunteering and kids
- Empower your kids by allowing them to choose where your family will help others.
- Volunteer. Do this as a family to teach your children the rich practice of giving to others in need.
- Feed. Help prepare Christmas dinners for those in need. Check in with your community to see where you can help.
- Animal Shelter: Take blankets, beds, dog food to an animal shelter. Animal shelters have enormous needs and they are forgotten this time of year.
Gifts
Talk to your children about their gift expectations. Have them make a list of 10 things they would like to receive. Tell them Santa will see what is available and maybe something on their list will come but maybe not the number one thing he or she wants.
Explain that other children have the same things on their list and for some unknown reason they may have needed it more than them. Maybe another child that got the gift they wanted was a child who was sick, or their parent was not with them or maybe they are in foster care. You don’t know why they may not get what they wanted but accept the gifts they receive with gratitude.
Rituals-Memories
Your kids love the rituals and time honored memories of this holiday season. Powerful rituals of the Christmas tree, lights, decorations, foods, cookies, candy, gifts, shopping, time off school and Christmas television shows are what create memories. This is a very exciting, fun-filled season for your children. It can almost be magical for a child. Sacred family traditions are created during the holiday season. Teach your children that they belong to family rituals that are unique and powerful glue for your family.
Create life-long memories and engage your children’s five senses.
- Taste. Cook, bake ritual family meals.
- Sound. Favorite holiday music or songs you sing together with the kids or at you house of worship or on the radio.
- Sight. Decorations, Christmas, wrapping gifts
- Smell. You plant the seeds and memories of the scents of the holiday season such as baking cookies, cakes and pies and cooking your favorite holiday foods. Smells associated with Christmas are pumpkin, gingerbread, turkey and peppermint.
- Touch. Baking, cooking, making gifts and decorating allow your hands to touch this special season.
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