Here are 5 easy tips for holiday stress you can empower parents with this holiday season. Each tip is also perfect for early intervention speech and language development!
Keep Routines Consistent (as much as possible) Here's what I mean by staying consistent: encourage parents to keep bedtimes, mealtimes, and quiet times as consistent as possible to help kids feel more secure. Try to plan for meals with familiar foods, bring comfort items like blankies and stuffies, and carry familiar toys. During routines, parents narrate and use simple phrases like "let's eat" or "time for bed." The repetition reinforces vocabulary while adding comfort to their day.
Talk Through Holiday Traditions & Plans Whether decorating a tree, lighting candles, or taking a vacation, remind parents to narrate what they're doing to encourage language and help their toddlers understand what to expect. Parents can also involve their little ones in safe prep tasks like baking cookies or decorating. If families are traveling, encourage parents to involve their little ones in packing with simple choices or naming items. Talk about riding in the car or flying on the plane daily until it's time to go. For example, if you see an airplane in the sky or on TV during the day, it's the perfect opportunity to point it out: "Look! It's an airplane! We are flying on an airplane soon to see grandma!" Offering these opportunities to know what's going to happen before it happens- might prevent those major meltdowns in the airport.
Practice Simple Social Phrases Holiday gatherings can be a lot for toddlers (and grown ups 🙃). Practice a few easy social phrases at home, like "Hi," "Thank you," "all-done" and "bye." These phrases can help little ones stay involved in activities and communicate with family members. Remind parents that when a child communicates something to them- it's very important they listen and honor that communication. Even if it means we don't hug Aunt Linda.
Build in Breaks Family gatherings can get busy! Encourage parents to create a calm down spot with a few familiar toys or favorite books. This space can help toddlers recharge, and parents can also model asking for a break ("I need a break")—a helpful skill when toddlers are feeling overstimulated. these can also be applied for adults in the chaos too! Everyone needs an opportunity to get away from the chaos. Providing toddlers with a break can help prevent meltdowns and keep familarity in the uncertainty of the changes.
Celebrate! Most importantly, remind parents: the holidays are supposed to be FUN! Encourage parents to be gentle with themselves and celebrate small moments when things go well.