Tips for preventing holiday "meltdowns"

With all the excitement of the season, its easy for young children to get overwhelmed and fall apart just when you want them to be on their best behaviour. The sugary treats, travel, visitors, presents, shopping, changes in bedtime etc., all can become too much for young children.

Try to remember that young children, especially toddlers, thrive with routine and familiarity. They feel more secure and safe and more in control of their experiences. So take a close look at everything that is different about this time of year and see what small parts of day to day routine you can keep going. It may be wake up routine, a familiar bowl to eat from that you take with you traveling, well loved toys, songs you sing every day, quiet time just with you, or a daily walk together. The littlest familiarity can go a long way.

And remember that good nutritious food helps stabilize moods, especially if there are lots of treats around. Keep the healthy food coming and don't let your child's blood sugar drop too much from over activity and not enough nourishment. A lot of "bad" behaviour can result from low blood sugar and hunger. A little attention given to routine and nutrition can make a real difference in your child's (and your) holiday time. Enjoy!