The holiday season is upon us and as many of us know this time of year can be particularly hectic. Purchasing gifts, traveling to visit friends and relatives, and hosting annual parties can all add to the joy and happiness to the holidays. These events can also create disruptions in your preschooler’s routines; disruptions that can make your child and your family quite uncomfortable and frustrated. To reduce the stress of the holidays and create positive memories for your family, consider the following:

• Spend the holidays at home: If you have a newborn or preschool aged children, traveling to see friends and relatives can disrupt important feeding and sleeping schedules. In order to minimize this disruption, consider having a party at home and having friends and relatives travel to see you instead.
• Maintain your child’s routine: During the holidays, there is often the temptation to relax bedtimes and schedules. Maintaining routines as much as possible during the holidays can reduce stress experienced by your preschooler, making it easier for parents to enjoy the holidays. 
• Get the family involved: If you have older children in the house, have them help with some of the extra work that comes with the holidays. Having extra helpers during the holiday season will enable you focus on maintaining routines for younger children and reducing your workload during this hectic time.
• Take time for yourself: Even if it is just a couple of hours or an evening, take time to do something that you enjoy. By taking time for yourself, you will reduce your frustration and will be able to tackle the challenges of the holiday season with renewed strength and energy.

                                       Take Care, 

                                       Michael Clatch, Psy.D.

Dr. Clatch sees clients out of his private practice Courage to Connect Therapeutic Center located at 2400 Ravine Way ste 600 Glenview IL 60025. He can be reached by email at drmichael@couragetoconencttherapy.com or by phone at (847) 347-5757