Counselor's Corner
CANTERBURY COUNSELOR CORNER
BY Betsy Vegel, School Counselor
Holiday season can be a joyful season full of festivities and excitement. It can also be a time of stress and tension. Here are some tips to help you and your child enjoy the season.’
Give the gift of giving. Model positive behavior by showing acts of kindness whether it is donating to a charity, baking cookies for a senior citizen, or hand making holiday cards. This message will have a great impact on your child for the rest of their lives.
Start your own traditions. Holiday time is a perfect time to plan special events that can continue year after . Sit down with your child and talk about what they would like to do. Think about spending time visiting with friends, making cookies together, or visiting the zoo or museum. Make sure to include your child in during the planning.
Keep Routines as best you can During the holidays there are more parties and events than typical. Maintain a reasonable bed time, and keep the routines similar to non holiday times which will help your child feel rested and relaxed. This may decrease those meltdowns and stressful responses by your child.
If there has been a big change make new routines. If there is a change in your family like a divorce or a death of a loved one, think about what you can change in your traditions to help ease the emotions of the situation. Plan a trip, visit relatives you normally don’t visit, or make a special meal with your child. Remember to maintain some of the traditions you established before the change occurred.
AgaIn, your goal should be to find ways to help ease the stress that can occur during the busy holiday season. Enjoy your family, make memories that they will cherish and carry into their adulthood.
