The holidays bring lots of fun and excitement, but they can also be a stressful and busy time of year for parents. Our culture doesn't exactly encourage us to slow down and smell the roses in December. If you're looking for a way to reduce holiday stress and keep your focus on family time this year, consider making reading together one of your holiday traditions.
When you hear about people who serve as volunteers, you might imagine that they have gifts or abilities that uniquely qualify them. However, the most important qualities of a good volunteer are a desire to help your community and the willingness to sacrifice some of your time.
This holiday season why not gather up a few craft supplies and let your kids help make some gifts for friends and family? Below are three fun ideas that we found on Pinterest. For photos and more detailed instructions check out our Pinterest Board "Handmade Gifts By/For Kids." We hope one or two will be a hit with your family!
Parents want to make the holidays a special time, but it’s hard to get into the spirit when we’re stressed out by hassles, social pressures, painful memories, or financial worries. How can we turn things around? Here are some tips to help you find peace and joy during the holiday season.
Once December rolls around, we’re all likely to give a little too much thought to presents we hope to receive, and our kids seem to want everything in sight! As parents and caregivers, we want them to also know the joy of giving to others. Below we list five ways that you can help your children enjoy the giving spirit of the holidays this year by practicing generosity toward others.
Last month, we began looking at the importance of social support for parents and their children. Throughout December, we’ll be taking a closer look at the mechanisms through which social support benefits families—specifically, by buffering parents and their children from the negative effects that persistent stress can have on social and emotional development.