How to Make Holidays Better for Kids

December 21, 2021

Ideas for keeping kids happy and able to enjoy the holiday fun

It’s easy for children to be smitten with the magic of the holidays. Fun presents. Extra sweets. A vacation from school—there’s a lot to like. It’s a fun and joyous time but also a very busy one. During the holidays, there are plenty of activities and events going on, traveling, visiting family. And while that can be a good thing, the reality is that all that means schedules are often out of whack, bedtimes get pushed back, and routines are disrupted. As a result, it’s inevitable that kids may feel some degree of holiday stress.

Here are some tips to keep kids happy and ready to enjoy whatever the season brings.

1. Gifts: Getting presents is a high point of the holidays for any kid, but they shouldn’t be the only focus. Giving presents can be just as rewarding as getting them. Younger kids can make one, or help you pick out something. Volunteering, participating in a local toy drive, or giving each of your kids a little money to give to a charity of their choice are all great ideas for getting children in a more generous mood.

And let’s remember that the best gifts that you can give to your children are time and experiences - taking time for the whole family to get together to play a game, watch a movie, or decorate sugar cookies, to travel—these are the things that kids remember as they get older.

2. Let them help: Kids love to help mom and dad, especially if they get lots of praise for being responsible and helpful. If you go shopping, ask your child to help you look for an item at the store (fun stocking stuffers for cousins, for example). Giving your child a task will not only boost his/her self-esteem, but it will make them feeling part of the holiday helper’s team.

Children can help set the table, decorate the house, and wrap presents. If they’re too young to wrap, they can help by holding down the paper or getting the tape ready — there’s always something kids can do. And at holiday time, the preparations are often as fun and as meaningful as the result.

3. Keep routines:We love the holidays because they give us a break from the everyday, but that can also be stressful, especially for kids who find routine comforting. Try to kep some things constant. Kids still need snack time, they still need special attention from you, and they still need a chance to unwind before bedtime. Give them their baths, get them into pajamas, and turn on a movie or just read a bedtime story.

4. Schedule some quiet time and remember - they’re kids: Some holiday traditions depend on kids being on their best behavior, but it’s hard even for adults to deal with so much noise and stimulation. Try to keep those to a minimum and customize festivities for your kids’ stress level and make sure to include physical activity and plenty of downtime. Find a quiet corner and read a book with your child or create holiday arts and crafts. Take a walk outside in nature, away from noise and crowds and obligations.

5. Healthy snacks and meals. Between all the extra sugary holiday snacks and the lack of time to sit down to regular meals, it can be all too easy for kids to eat less healthy foods, which can contribute to holiday stress in children.

Try packing healthy snacks when you go shopping or run other holiday errands and try to minimize the number of sweet treats at home.