For children and parents alike, the holiday season is often deemed magical and filled with excitement. However, it can also be a busy time for families to juggle the demands of work, school and holiday preparations.
That is why Devereux Center for Resilient Children national trainer and early childhood specialist Nefertiti Bruce is offering some tips for building resilience this holiday season. Based on the email sent to Parent Herald, Bruce stresses the importance of "rediscovering the season's original values" such as "thankfulness, togetherness and family" in building personal resilience during the holidays.
According to Bruce, growing in gratitude is one way to build resilience this holiday season. Instead of looking forward to some new things, Bruce says it's better for people to be thankful for the things they already have.
Bruce also advises parents and children to learn how to appreciate the little things in life such as "hugging a significant other, eating a wholesome meal or watching our children smile." Bruce believes that by learning to value what one already have can help develop "strength and happiness" from our everyday life.
Being resilient doesn't mean people don't need help. As per Bruce, asking for help shows strength that one is unafraid of taking risks and experiencing failure.
Since the hectic schedule of the holiday season could be stressful to both the parents and the children, Bruce shared another tip and that is to laugh often and be in good spirits. The former kindergarten and preschool teacher said laughter reduces stress and could give families more peace of mind.
There are also other tips to foster resilience among families this holiday season. Another is ensuring to promote an open and balanced communication among family members. That way, these meaning and long-lasting relationships could be a good source of strength.
Meanwhile, Nefertiti Bruce also added that making time for a hobby, practicing self-calming techniques and getting adequate rest can be vital in building and maintaining daily resilience. With all the aforementioned tips, parents and children may wonder why resilience is so important this holiday season.
By building and ensuring resilience, families will be able to manage stress and experience more joy this holiday season and other stressful occasions or celebrations. So, are you ready to make resilience part of your holiday preparations? Feel free to share your thoughts below.
