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Holiday Visiting and Your Preschooler
Family visits with a preschooler (or two) in tow can be exciting for all concerned. They can also be a challenge. Holiday dinners and family reunions are best handled if the short attention spans and high energy levels of preschool children are anticipated and planned for.
Preschool Food Choices
If you know your preschooler is happier with favorite foods from home, then load up and lug them along. Far better for her to be chowing down on Cheerios than disgustedly chucking up chutney (all over grandma's prized Yen Linh clutch). If you're worried that your child isn't getting a balanced meal, with the rich desserts filling tiny tummies, use perspective to balance your view. Occasional over-indulgence is a treat - a few days a year is not going to make a perceptible difference - but the memories of family fun and togetherness will certainly last a lifetime.
Another wonderful discovery many first-time parents make is that young children are truly in tune with their bodies and know the food they lack. Instead of denying your preschooler another decorated cookie, offer a small array of healthy alternates as well. It's reassuring to see that little hand reach over the sweet to a bright green bean or broccoli floret, and there's no power struggle to deal with.
Use Family Members
Older cousins usually surprise even themselves with how much they enjoy playing with their younger relatives. It's not a 'burden' for a 10-year-old to sit on the floor with his 3-year old cousin, building enormous towers of blocks. The older child (often bored by the seemingly endless adult conversation and laughter), feels useful and can have a lot of fun, teaching his cousin skills through play. Elderly relatives or those not usually able to babysit per se, can spend one-on-one time with your child by reading a favorite book or two (which you've brought with you).
Time Out TV
With many families traveling long distances by air and road to get together over the holidays, electronic games and videos are a great way for a tired toddler to while away the hours. Bringing some sure-fire favorites from home (plus a new DVD or CD-ROM for variety) can be a source of entertainment for her and a break for you.
Don't hesitate to bring the player into the restaurant or relative's home, either - with headphones, your child's program won't bother anyone, and it gives you time for uninterrupted adult conversation.
Dancing Off The Energy
Probably the most acceptable method of preschoolers running off steam during a long family get-together is dancing. (And it’s really cute, too.) If you're at a sit-down dinner where music isn't being offered, any percussion or music toy (suitably subdued as not to drive extended family wild) can certainly be used.
A little hand-clapping to encourage her, and your whirling dervish may never stop!
Sometimes nothing works but a cuddle, and don't be surprised if your preschooler - who graduated to sippy-cup long ago - regresses a little. Bring along a bottle, and get her pull-ups ready. When the excitement's died down and routine re-established, the recently learned skills will quickly return.
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