The holidays are about us and as parents we need to
find a way to get thought then without losing our minds so how do you do this.
Make a
plan
It good to have a plan of what you are going to do for
the whole time You should plan for each day this will help with the costs and
get all the things you need The plan should include what the kids want to do
and where they want to go ,Also it might be worth s talking to other friends to
see if you can work together for play days and outings.
Create a Routine
During the school year, our days are highly structured. Whilst the holidays
are a good time to loosen these routines and generally slow down, both you and
your kids will benefit from some kind of structure such as set play times and
meal times. Spontaneity is great, but without any structure at all, kids can
feel a bit lost and bored.
Build up a Support Network
Check with the kids’ school or
nursery for a holiday program. Community centers may also offer activities and
events that allow kids to try something new, learn different skills and develop
interests outside of their school curriculum.
Mind your Work
Most working parents are unable to take time off work for the full duration
of the holidays and even if you have flexible working arrangements, there will
be a time when you do need to knuckle down in front of your laptop. Make sure
these times are part of your joint holiday planning to avoid becoming more
stressed out than you would be during the school year.
When things go wrong and children behave inappropriately DO NOT BLAME, CRITICISE, SHOUT OR NAG.
Instead try to think about the reason for the misbehavior. Was there an emotion
driving it or was the child looking for attention? Were they tired,
over-stimulated or over-sugared? Acknowledge the feelings and, when things have
calmed down, ask the child to think of an appropriate way of making amends. If
your child is looking for attention make sure you’re giving lots of it for the
positive things he’s doing.
Outsource jobs – the
holidays can bring on additional stresses particularly if you are looking after
other family members, pets or juggling work. Acknowledge that not every day
will be easy and consider outsourcing jobs throughout the holiday. Perhaps you
can off load your ironing, dog walking or use a children's holiday club once a
week.
Try these
and don’t get to strung it’s the holidays so have fun and they will be over
sooner than you think
