Christmas Stress in Children – 10 Coping Tips for Holiday Anxiety

Dec 2, 2010
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen

Christmas Stress in Children - Coping Tips - msuvedaz sxc

A child's Christmas stress takes many forms: depression, hyperactivity, anxiety. Parents, use these coping tips to reduce stress over the holiday season.

The first tip for coping with stressed or depressed children at Christmas is to recognize the signs. Then, parents need to figure out the best ways to calm childrens' anxious feelings and reduce stress.

Different methods work for different families and figuring out the best way to cope with Christmas stress may involve some trial and error! That said, however, the trick is to stay as consistent as possible. Kids don't like guesswork or unpredictability; they thrive with routines and consistency.

Here are several signs of Christmas stress, plus tips for helping kids cope.

Signs of Christmas Stress in Children

Children may be anxious, depressed, or stressed at Christmas if they exhibit:

Tears for seemingly minor reasons.
Nervous behaviors such as nail biting and hair twirling.
Physical complaints, such as stomachaches, headaches, fatigue, diarrhea, etc.
Regression to younger behaviors: bed wetting, eating with hands.
Withdrawal from school friends or siblings.

Any behavior that a child doesn’t normally exhibit could be a sign of Christmas stress or anxiety.

Coping Tips for Stressed or Anxious Kids

Take children out of the spotlight during Christmas plays or performances, especially if your child is an introvert. Pay attention to your child's personality and boundaries, and help them set limits.
Combine parties and events to reduce the time spent on holiday activities. For instance, invite an aunt to the kids’ Christmas party, or the grandparents to visit Santa at the mall.
Stick with the normal routine as much as possible. If your children are anxious, depressed, or stressed at Christmas, keep the holiday shopping and visiting a minimum. Start preparing for Christmas early, to avoid a holiday rush.
Ask your children what makes them feel calm and relaxed. Do they wind down with music, reading, spending time with you or playing with siblings? Encourage them to do what they love
Make sure your children eat nutritious foods, drink lots of water, and get exercise. Reducing kids’ holiday stress looks similar to minimizing your own holiday anxiety.
Talk to your children about Christmas traditions and spirituality. If you believe in Christ, focus on the real meaning of Christmas – and trusting God. If you have traditions, explain why they’ve stayed in your family.
Bring a favorite blanket or stuffed animal if you’re staying with family over the holidays. A bit of home will reduce your child’s holiday anxiety.
Cope with your own Christmas stress and anxiety. The less Christmas stress you feel, the more relaxed your children will be.
Volunteer at a food bank, kids’ hospital or community centre. Find ways to give to your community; volunteering often relieves feelings of holiday anxiety.
Get into the peaceful, joyous Christmas spirit with funny movies, snow days, and cozy snuggles with hot chocolate.

And here's the most important coping tip of all: if you - the parent - are stressed, anxious, or depressed at Christmas, your child may feed off your anxiety. Perhaps the best thing you can do to help stressed children at Christmas is to cope with your own feelings.

The more you relax and enjoy Christmas, the more relaxed and happy your kids will be!