With the holiday break right around the corner, you may be feeling a mixture of excitement and worry as the holiday season will look a little different this year. Don’t worry, we have you covered! This year may look different with small to no gatherings and traditions not feeling the same without grandma and grandpa, but it can still hold just as much magic! Here are 4 tips to keeping your spirits bright through a different looking holiday season.
Plan Ahead
Routines might look very different this year, so it is important to plan ahead! Keep your kids in the loop and make sure they know what to expect! If your kiddo benefits from it, make a schedule to show them the plan for the holidays this year, even if that is simply a picture of you all at home. Foreshadow the fact that there are changes and that things will look different, but that you will still be celebrating and keeping the holidays bright!
Go with the Flow
This may seem like common sense, but if 2020 has taught us anything it’s to let go of any expectations we had and to go with the flow. That includes what the holidays might look like this year. It might be hard to not attend the usual holiday gatherings and keep your kiddos entertained all holiday break. Things are bound to get a little stressful and challenging at times. Use your own self-regulation tools when you need to. Also, have a back up plan for when things get a little too stressful. Check out our blog post on how to create a sensory calm down corner at home. This blog post provides ample tips and tricks on how to provide your kiddos with the perfect self-regulation tools at home.
Keep Traditions
Do you always make a gingerbread house with Gramma? Plan a zoom and make them together (although separately)! Try your best to keep the typical traditions alive and well, even if they don’t quite look the same. I always look forward to the reading of the Night Before Christmas, and plan on calling my grandparents to make this happen! Watch favorite movies, enjoy favorite holiday treats, and make sure to have FUN!
Take Care of Yourself
The holiday season has always meant non stop shopping, cooking and planning in between the multiple holiday events and over indulging in food. Not to mention while still managing the stress of completing all other necessary holiday tasks in only a few short weeks. No wonder self care goes out the window around the holidays. This year we have the ability to take control of our self care and put it at the forefront of this holiday season. Holiday shopping can be done online this year, cooking will be for immediate family and the only planning you will be doing is making sure your kiddos are caught up on all school work before holiday break. Take that extra time to treat yourself. 2020 has been challenging for all of us and we all deserve a little “me” time. It’s time to put the “me” back in merry.
By: Sarah Leverance, BS and Kathryn Record, MS, OTR/L