| Coping with the Holidays | |
| The holidays are here and this means a sense of joy and excitement, and as adults we want to share these feelings with our children. In our enthusiasm, however, we have to be careful to recognize that children view the holidays differently from adults. First, the activities surrounding the holidays can simply overwhelm a child. Their meal schedule is different, the foods they eat are different, there are many visits from family and friends, parties to attend, and in general the pace is much faster than any other time of the year. Second, since adults are caught up in these activities, they may not focus their usual levels of attention on their children's emotional needs. With this in mind, we should consider thoughtful and sensitive ways to bring the spirit and excitement of the holidays into the classroom or child care setting. Whether the children are cared for in a nondenominational or religious environment, it's important to consider that very young children (ages 3 to 5) aren't terribly capable of anticipating the holidays. It takes several years for them to develop the sense of tradition that we as adults take for granted. So what can be done in the child care setting to provide a sense of joy without being overwhelming? The challenge is to discover what's really meaningful to the children in our care, as this information will guide what we do for a given group of children. With all the excitement going on, make the child care atmosphere a place where the holidays are acknowledged, but children can still find the comfort and security of their usual routines and surroundings. For this reason, try to include symbols of the various holidays without having decorations take over the setting. In addition to the symbols, children do well relating to scenes of people gathering for the holidays. These scenes can add to the decorations and at the same time can be used to discuss what holidays mean to children. Projects can follow the same theme of recognizing the holidays without being overwhelming - for example, children can make and decorate cookies, read stories and have art activities that reflect the joy of the holidays. The bottom line is for us to recognize that holidays can be a time of great stress for children, as they can be for adults, and it's important to keep routines stable and predictable. By being mindful of children's perspectives, we can share the joy of the season in a way that is appropriate to their developmental level. | |
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