A Parenting Tip - Enjoying Your Baby's First Holiday Season

A Parenting Tip - Enjoying Your Baby's First Holiday Season
By Colleen Langenfeld

Having a new baby in the home at the holidays is always
exciting. Here's a parenting tip that will help you and your
baby truly enjoy this special time of year.

* See everything through the eyes of a child.

Honestly, that's the secret to the holiday season. Don't be
fooled by the simplicity of this parenting tip. After 26 years
of parenting and 4 children, I can tell you, we adults have
forgotten how to do this!

Our kids can help us remember these things. For starters, one
thing they teach us is that the holidays are not about
hecticness, buying stuff, getting gifts, making cookies, sending
cards or doing a marathon of activities.

The holidays are about experiencing connection and nobody does
that better than a little child. Even babies understand this
concept beautifully.

No other time of the year is so perfectly filled with sensory
overload. Your child is programmed to tune into this. When you
plan your holiday activities, keep your little one in mind. Look
for things you can do together.

And keep it simple. Here are some ideas you might try with your
child.

-- Sledding down a (tiny) hill.

-- Looking at the beautiful holiday lights in your
neighborhood.

-- Listening to carolers sing.

-- Dancing to holiday music.

-- Going to a shopping mall and watching the other shoppers and
children.

-- Taking a first peek at Santa Claus.

-- Turning off the room lights, lying on your floor together
and simply enjoying your lovely Christmas tree.

-- Enjoying a (age-appropriate) first bite of a holiday treat.

-- Catching snowflakes on your tongue.

Also consider your holiday decorating. Keep the decor that's
down low within your little one's reach safe and fun.

For example...

- purchase (or make) simple fabric decorations (we have enjoyed
a stuffed fabric nativity for years in our home).

- dress up a group of teddy bears or cloth dolls in holiday
finery.

- put together a holiday zoo filled with stuffed critters that
can be hugged and played with again and again.

- fill a basket with cloth or plastic balls in holiday colors.

You get the point. Make sure your decorations are things that
you and your child can enjoy together, instead of a lot of
beautiful baubles your baby can't touch. Babies and toddlers
learn much about their world through their mouths and fingers.
There will always be many things your baby *cannot* touch. Make
sure you have available plenty of items your baby *can* touch.

A holiday parenting tip would not be complete without
considering what seasonal traditions you want to establish in
your own home. Do you have a faith tradition you want to pass on
to your child? Did your own childhood family have a tradition
you remember warmly? Think about what you would like your child
to carry with her into adulthood someday from her childhood
holidays and start making those memories this year.

See the holidays as your precious child sees them, with delight
and wonder. A sense of curiosity. And much enjoyment. You'll be
pleasantly surprised at how much you will enjoy the season when
you allow yourself to experience it through the eyes of your
child.

And, at least once, fall asleep together listening to "Silent
Night" or your favorite holiday music.

About the Author: Colleen Langenfeld has been parenting for
over 26 years and helps other moms enjoy mothering more at
http://www.paintedgold.com. Visit her website and pick up
another parenting tip at
http://www.paintedgold.com/Kids/parenting-tip.html .

Source: http://www.isnare.com

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