It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but all the excitement of the holiday interrupts a child’s routine and can add stress and sometimes cause behavioral problems.

Stress and pressure from extra activities, shopping and high expectations can impact family harmony. Glen Aylward, Ph.D., professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at SIU School of Medicine says a variety of stressors can affect children.

“Kids’ schedules change during the holidays which can cause disruption. They are out of school. Many of them travel for vacation and to see extended family,” Aylward says. “The big hype by the media and peers to get the best toy and other things that they probably don’t even need increases pressure. This is exacerbated in situations or families with pre-existing anxiety about food and security, lack of social support and other family issues.”

Aylward says behavioral challenges might include emotional volatility and tension. “If parents are under pressure, the children can sense this as they are bell weathers of stress,” he added.

He advises parents to take care of themselves and make the holidays more fun and less stressful, which will make their children’s behaviors more acceptable. These tips can help.

• keep finances under control
• do not exhaust yourselves by too much revelry
• avoid getting upset by meeting family members that perhaps they would prefer to avoid

He also recommends guiding children away from the material issues of the holiday and get into the giving – the actual spirit of the season. If a child’s behavior becomes more disruptive or doesn’t return to normal soon after the holidays, the child may need to see a doctor or pediatric counselor.

Hear Aylward talk about kids and holiday stress.

Other resources:

http://childparenting.about.com/od/healthsafety/a/holidaystresskids.htm

http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/holiday_stress.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_5884_help-children-with.html

-rs