Tips on Spending Holiday with Children

Nina Chen, Ph.D.

Human Development Specialist

 ·        Plan ahead.  Think about what are things that your children would enjoy doing together during a holiday. Have a family

        meeting to discuss a holiday plan and let them be involved in the plan.  Making a holiday plan together helps children feel

       confident, secure, and loved. Be creative, open, and flexible to establish traditions with your children.

 ·        Provide routine schedules.  Children need consistent schedules even in a holiday season. If it is impossible to keep a

       routine schedule during a holiday, tell your children the change and what to expect ahead of time. Don't schedule too

       many activities to overwhelm your children.

 ·        Allow children to talk about past holidays and encourage them to express their feelings, memories, and joy. 

 ·        Keep a holiday simple and meaningful.  For instance, have children help with decorations, making holiday meals, visiting

       extended families, etc.  Help children find a church or community project that you all could do together to share the joy of

       holidays with people in homeless shelters, nursing homes, hospitals, or foster homes.

 ·        Give your children reassurance. Children may feel guilty when they spend a holiday with only one parent.  Help them

       make contacts with the other parent by phone, e-mail, cards, letters, etc. 

Question and Answer

Q: My children worry about me when they spend a holiday with the other parent. What should I tell them?

A:  Let your children know your plan such as what you will do and where you will be while they are gone. Assure them that you will be fine and enjoy the holiday.