The holidays are a special time of year, and a perfect opportunity to get together with the ones you love. Smiles and laughter from grandkids make it even better, but the holiday season can be hectic. If you don’t spend a lot of time with your grandchildren, you may wonder what they’re into and how you’ll keep them entertained. A little planning can help alleviate stress and allow you to enjoy every moment you spend with your family. These tips can help you prepare for celebrations and make beautiful memories.
How to Make the Holidays More Fun and Less Stressful
Get on the same page with your children. Whether your children live close by or thousands of miles away, it’s vital to communicate about holiday planning. Although you probably have your own holiday traditions, ask them if there are any specific things they do to celebrate as a family. Communicating ahead of time about plans and how you fit into them will cut down on unrealistic expectations and make everyone feel heard. It’s also important to ask about gift giving and if there’s anything that’s off-limits for the kids.
Enjoy the experience. The best part of the holidays isn’t getting presents—it’s the memories you make with your family. Extravagant gifts are nice, but experiences like baking cookies together, going to see Santa, decorating the tree or attending a holiday service can help you create a lasting bond with your grandkids and create happy memories they’ll cherish forever. Creating new traditions or activities that they do with just grandma or grandpa will also give them something special to look forward to each year.
Get the kids involved. Involving older children in holiday planning can get them excited and interested in all types of activities. Kids’ interests tend to change from year to year, so ask them what they’d like to do. Whether it’s ice skating, catching a movie, doing an art project or seeing The Nutcracker, they’ll appreciate your efforts to do things they enjoy.
Be flexible. Even though the holiday season is a time of joy, juggling time with multiple sets of grandparents can be daunting. Help your kids and grandkids out by being flexible about plans and activities and where and when you’ll celebrate certain holidays. Being flexible cuts down on tension can make the time you spend with your family much more pleasant.
Regardless of what your holidays look like, don’t forget that grandparents have a special place in their grandchildren’s hearts and lives. Creating new traditions and enjoying your time together are gifts that will keep on giving for a lifetime.
