Simplify Your Holiday Season and Avoid Family Pitfalls

The holidays can bring both joy and stress. Changes in routine, travel, and social expectations often challenge children—and the adults who love them. With a little awareness and intention, your family can embrace a simpler, more meaningful season.

1. Simplify by lowering your expectations dramatically. Choose one to three cherished traditions—and let go of the rest. The American Psychological Association (APA) found that nearly 4 in 5 adults reported holiday-related stress, with many saying expectation pressure makes things harder.
2. Talk about plans as a family. Sit together and review what will and won’t happen—what you’ll do, who you’ll see. Open conversation helps children feel secure and understood.
3. Maintain bedtime schedules as rigorously as you possibly can. Sleep, meals, and downtime anchor children’s sense of security. The CDC’s “Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers” notes that structure and rules help children feel stable and ready for fun. Stick to the plan!
4. Create opportunities for your children to be generous as well as to be helpful and feel competent. Being generous can take many forms, from purchasing and wrapping gifts to donate, working at a food bank, or making cards and gifts for family and friends. Helping to decorate, cook, serve, and clean up should be part of your child’s responsibilities no matter their age, or whether you are hosts or guests. Making sure your children are an integral part of the activities and festivities helps them feel connected, important, and grateful.
5. This time of year gives us a precious opportunity to create rituals and traditions that exemplify our values and beliefs. Our children want to know what we think about the big questions, what we hold dear, and what we strive for—in our homes, community, and the world. Sharing these with our children is the true gift of this season!

As you navigate the season, remember this: simplicity, connection, and clarity matter more than flawless celebrations. When parents lead with calm and kindness, children learn to find joy in what truly counts.