Thanksgiving

The holidays are right around the corner!!! As we all know so very well our kids don't do well with the holidays. There is a big combination of things that are difficult for them to deal with: relatives (triangulation; sweet and charming behavior; lack of cause and effect thinking; ADHD), a change in routine (fear; anxiety) and parents who are wanting to give attention to other people and are stressed over their behavior. I am going to share a few things that have helped us. If you have any please leave a comment or let me know if you have written about it and I will put a link to your blog.

1. Be proactive: Plan activities. We find taking board games and spending some time playing them with our kids really helps calm them. We can't do it all the time because we are there to see the relatives but we find if we do it pretty soon other relatives join in and play games with them so we end up getting a break.

2. Take along old clothes and shoes so they can play outside. Take along nerf footballs, soccer balls or something for them to do outside.

3. Come up with a signal that conveys a message. For us it a wink. The behavior we have to avoid is having them take over adult conversations. It can be almost impossible for us to have a conversation if they are at the table because they interrupt and try to turn the conversation to being between them and the other adult. A wink can say :Warning! You will be leaving the table if it happens again. Some signal so you don't have to say it out loud and have the other adults say "OH IT'S OK" Argh.

4. Check in with them often with a hug and an assurance that they are safe.

Have a great healing weekend!