(STILLWATER) – Holidays are a time for happiness and
enjoyment, but oftentimes these get overlooked due to the stress and added
demands that are placed upon already busy schedules.
“Holidays
are a time for family get togethers, decorating, shopping, gift wrapping,
baking and attending special activities,” said Debbie Richardson, Oklahoma
State University Cooperative Extension Service, parenting assistant
specialist. “With all these extra
activities added stress is possible.
To help relieve some of this stress try to get the entire family
involved in undertaking holiday chores and activities.”
The following ideas can help
your family work together to reduce holiday stress:
-
Sit down and develop
with a list of the things that need to be done during the holidays. Like shopping, card signing, cleaning,
etc., delegate family members or let them volunteer to help get these tasks
completed.
-
Make up a December
calendar. Include dates and times of all activities to be attended, and a
schedule of when tasks such as cleaning, baking and shopping need to be done.
-
Take a look at your
family’s holiday activities.
Evaluate what you do each year.
Decide if you really enjoy these activities. If you are doing things that are not joyful, consider not
doing the activity any longer or do it in a different way.
-
Plan easy meals. Double your batch of favorite
casseroles and put in the freezer for a quick meal on a busy day.
-
Take a few minutes each
day for yourself and do something relaxing.
-
Keep routines such as
sleeping and eating as close to normal as possible to prevent children from
becoming overtired or cranky.
-
Expect young children to
misbehave occasionally. Remember they have short attention spans and tire
easily.
Richardson
says it is also important to make time for family fun. Baking cookies, trimming
the tree, caroling or taking a drive to see the local light displays are fun
activities the entire family can enjoy.
During
this busy month, try to set aside some time to do some special activities with
your child.
“Involving
your child in preparing for festivities makes them feel more important and can
also provide them an excellent chance for one-on-one time,” said Richardson.
A
fun craft for children to do is making their own wrapping paper. To make wrapping paper, you will need
the following materials:
-
Brown paper bags (cut open), white or colored tissue paper, or butcher wrap
-
Household sponges cut into a variety of shapes (triangles, squares, circles, etc.)
-
Tempera paint, crayons, or markers
-
Paper plates
Directions:
Together, cover a large table with newspaper. If using paint, help your child spread a thin layer of paint
in each plate. Crayons and markers may also be used to draw designs if paint is
not available. Slightly dampen sponges.
Encourage your child to select sponge shapes and press them into the
paint, then place them on the paper and press down into print shapes. (It is OK to wipe paint with paper
sponges rather than making prints.)
“Let
your child make several sheets of wrapping paper,” said Richardson. “This would be a great way to wrap
those special gifts for Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Grandma or any other special
person.”
Prepared by: Debbie Richardson
Parenting Assistant Specialist
233 HES
Stillwater, OK
74078
405-744-6231
Katie L. Reim
Communication Specialist
OSU AG Communication Services
Stillwater, OK 74078
(405) 744-6792