Holiday celebrations bring a lot of extra activity for parents and kids, and it’s the kind of activity that makes things extra stressful for you and your right brain thinker. Here are few ideas to help keep the calm during family gatherings.

Prepare well. Whether it’s dinner at grandma’s house, or a big family reunion, parties mean lots of extra and sometimes unfamiliar, people and places. Our ADD kids do better when they know what to expect and what’s expected of them. Tell them who’s going to be there and what’s going to happen. Let them know what is expected of them.

Give them something to do. Ignite a world of creativity with this Easter Art Table Runner, adorned with charming Easter-themed illustrations just waiting to be colored. Turn your Easter brunch into a canvas of imagination and keep the little ones entertained and involved. It can be a table decoration or hung on the wall to keep the kids entertained throughout the day. Limited availability – reserve yours now and transform your dining table into a springtime art hub!

Please and thank you. Good behavior still matters. Since our ADD kids often struggle managing their impulsive chatter, we may have our own reservations about them participating in social settings. But they need to. Practice some general social skills but be careful not to stress or put pressure on them before an event. Give them some ideas on what to expect and how to act. Keep it light and expect good things.

Feed them first. Feed your kids before you go to the party. Yes, there’s going to be food there. But feeding them a nutritious meal ahead of time means you won’t be stressed trying to get them to eat in a place they really won’t want to.

Plan your exit time. You know your kids. You know how long they can manage themselves at large events, so honor that and plan accordingly. If it’s a 5-hour event and your child’s max time is 3 hours, get there a little late and leave early. In some instances, you’ll want to let the hostess know ahead of time, so no offense all around.

Bring reinforcements. It’s all to easy to bring kids to an event with a favorite device and let them pass the time in isolation. But it’s not good. These celebrations and events are great opportunities for kids to develop much needed social skills. There’s lots to be gained sitting and listening to grandpa’s stories, helping grandma in the kitchen or playing with cousins. Real playing. But when the time is right, and you know they’ve had enough, help them find a quiet place to do an activity you brought or use their tech device.

Get up and get moving. Be the family that goes outside and plays football. We’ve seen it on TV. In shows. Commercials. We all want to be that family. Play hockey. Volleyball. Go for a walk. Anything.  If it’s not something your family does, start a new tradition. Pick a game or activity your child can participate in. Whatever it is, get the kids and adults up and moving. At the very least, you and your kids can move a bit. 

Putting some of these things in place, as many as you can, will help, along with a healthy serving of grace, for everyone in the family.

Please help share the calm by telling us something you do to get through the holidays in peace.