
Holiday Survival Tips From An OT
LLA Therapy Occupational Therapist, Nicole Torres, gives tips on making the holiday season a success for you and your family!
-Bring your own utensils and/or cups to avoid excess mess.
-If you have a messy eater (or just a small child), bring a bib or separate shirt/outfit to eat in so that no one has to stress over keeping clothes clean for pictures, etc.
-Limit sugary drinks and desserts to avoid the sugar high and crash! Water down the punch, give a specific number of dessert items your child may have.
-Provide your child with a countdown to departure. “Suzy Q, we are leaving in about 15 minutes….You have about 10 more minutes to play with cousin John….In 5 minutes it will be time to say goodbye.” If you are leaving somewhere near bedtime, you may want to bring some PJs to set the stage for winding down and make the transition into bed as painless as possible if he or she falls asleep on the way home
-And finally, the most important tip that I can offer you as a parent….DO NOT take anything your relatives say to you personally! They are not you, they do not live in your home, they do not know your child as well as you do, or live your life on a daily basis. Whatever they say comes from their own perspective and experience, whatever that may be, so as Elsa says…..”LET IT GO, LET IT GO!”