What’s better than one plant pillow? Multiple plant pillows! Green Philosophy Co. has a new batch to liven up your home sans green thumb.
Snag a beautiful blush peach Big Pop pillow for $69 and enjoy the soft, microplush material. The new pillow is also available in sage green, plus smaller versions as well.
Want to cozy up with a blanket, too? The new Sherpa Gloriosum Leaf Throw Blanket ($149) covers you in green glory. The design is inspired by the Philodendron Gloriosum’s leaves, which boast a heart shape and contrasting veins.
Snag a beautiful Alocasia Micholitziana in forest green or obisidian with a pop of white from its eye-catching vein pattern. It’s available now for $49.
You may be familiar Green Philosophy Co. realistic succulent trio that comes in sage green, olive green and peach. The pillows measure 15 inches wide and 8 inches tall. You can buy them individually ($39) or as a bundle ($109).
Another new growth, the Philodendron Gloriosum, is inspired by a lovely heart shaped plant that looks great in any room. You can buy it in Serene Green (pictured) or Moody Green for $39.
Or order a Monstera deliciosa pillows as well! The only bad news: pre-orders aren’t shipping until September. Pull the trigger on one now and you’ll have it just in time for fall!
And before you wonder if these are just novelty pillows, the reviews and our own-plant obsessed editor can attest: these babies are plush, snuggly and high-quality. So far, they’re even toddler-proof.
—Jennifer Swartvagher, Amber Guetebier, Karly Wood and Sarah Shebek
Whether you’re prepared, scared, or maybe in denial, there’s no denying that the new school year is here. Although that may look different for families all over the country, with some opting into in-person learning, staying remote, a combination of both, or maybe even still unsure, we’re all in this together. I don’t need to tell you this school year will be unlike any other, you already know that. Instead, I’m using my years of experience as both a mom and a primary educator to provide some simple tips to help balance a new routine and tackle the new year feeling confident and empowered to make this the best year yet for your little learners. If nothing else, just remember you got this.
1. Use all the resources available to you. As a kindergarten teacher and mom of two littles, I’m always looking for ways to take some tasks off of my plate. We started to use grocery drop off/pick up services to save a little time. Also, everyone in the family is taking on more of an active role. We’ve also leaned on our family and friends in ways that we have not in the past. This can be difficult for so many parents that feel like we have to do it all….use your village!
2. Give your children more control during a time when they might feel out of control. I love the word “yes.” When my children ask to do something, wear something, or play something…if it’s in my power to say “yes,” then I do! I want them to feel like they have some control when the world seems to be changing daily. For me, that means letting them select their own clothes or even giving them a little more control in their daily schedule. My children also learned how to pack their own lunches during quarantine so they can keep this up whether they are at home for distance learning or back in the classroom. We decided to put their lunch items, snacks, and juice boxes in places that are accessible for their tiny hands.
3. Support your kids by supporting their teachers. This is near to me since I hold space as a veteran teacher and concerned parent. I understand what it means to deal with distance learning at home or send my child into a school that I’m not allowed to step foot into. It’s tough stuff! On the other hand, I know what it is to be the teacher under pressure—especially during this unprecedented time. When it comes to your children’s’ teachers: assume the best intentions, be understanding. This is new for everyone. Be flexible and remember—the whole world is going through this. We are winning with each passing day!
4. Take care of yourself. Self-care is critical. Self-care is proactive. Self-care is so much deeper than a relaxing bubble bath. For me personally, self-care is even cleaning the bathtub after the relaxing bubble bath because I know that a dirty space might be a trigger for stress later. In a world that is ever connected, it’s also easy to compare yourself to others. Don’t! This is one of the fast ways to trigger stress and anxiety—and for me, that is the opposite of self-care. We are all on our own journey. Remember social media is a highlight reel and if you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anyone else.
Amber Kemp-Gerstel is the host of Disney Family Sundays on Disney+ and founder of Damask Love, a creative blog all about DIY. Amber received her Ph.D. in Clinical Child Psychology from Vanderbilt University and practiced as a pediatric psychologist for many years before shifting careers to pursue her passion for creativity.
What are the most rides at Walt Disney World? Upgraded Points recently surveyed more than 5,300 adults ages 18 and up to answer this question.
The survey included all four Walt Disney World parks—The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Based on the results, Disney park visitors rank the Magic Kingdom rides at the top of their list!
Each U.S. State’s Favorite Ride at Walt Disney World
photo courtesy of Upgraded Points
Top honors went to Space Mountain. This classic attraction ranked as the overall Disney World number one in a whopping 13 states. When it comes to the Magic Kingdom only, Space Mountain was in the top spot in 14 states.
Other top-ranking rides include the Haunted Mansion (number one in 12 states), Big Thunder Mountain (number one in five states), It’s a Small World (also number one in five states) and Pirates of the Caribbean (number one in three states).
Upgraded Points CEO, Alex Miller, said in a press release, “Our data clearly show that when people develop a liking or loyalty to some aspect of their theme park experience, that becomes a strong trigger to send them back again-and-again. Kids who come to love a certain theme park ride will, in time, return with their children and experience it again through the joy and delight of their own children.”
To see which rides were the highest rated by state in each of the other three Disney World parks, visit Upgraded Points here for full survey data.
I remember discovering the line between worry and wonder. It like it was yesterday. I can go back to the moment with a single trigger. It was the day that Whitman was born. We call it the greatest, saddest, most chaotic Friday of our life. When your child is on life support, you’re thrown into a world of anxiety and worry. Welcome to parenting—one moment you’re waddling around pregnant and then next you have to make life and death decisions for a human you can’t hold.
As I sat and stared at the incubator, I worried. I worried that we wouldn’t make it home. I worried that if he didn’t make it home that I would be to blame. I worried about the lack of oxygen and if Whitman would even have a life. I felt this ever-heavy block on my chest as if every move was wrong and I would look back on my decisions and regret every single one.
Then something amazing happened. We came home. We took a deep breath for a moment. Then the immune system quarantine began. We picked and chose for Whit’s safety. I refused to go back to hell. I was overprotective. I advocated for Whit’s health.
Once, we felt like we were in the clear I started to wonder. What was Whit’s life going to be like?! Will he have friends?! Will he be ok?! The worry started to sneak back in as the laundry list of delays started coming and we had to sign up for an in-home therapy program.
The worry of what quality of life will Whit have?! Will he walk?! Will he talk?! An added joy and worry came when I found out I was pregnant with Genevieve (Vivi). The excitement was there but I was a wreck. What if she is born too early like Whitman?! Will she be healthy and happy?! Did I just ruin Whit’s life by adding a sibling?! I felt the worry of ruining Whit’s life more when I was put on bed rest because I was going into preterm labor.
After we had Vivi we began the worry game. Was she meeting all her milestones, was she babbling, making eye contact—the list was endless because at Whit’s school, we were always reminded about the list of all the things Whit can’t do.
It was daunting not to worry for both kids. Whit began private therapy, we moved schools, and Vivi thrived. We began to enter the wonder. I wonder what Vivi will be when she’s an adult. I wonder how Whit will handle being in a mainstream school?!
There’s a fine line between worry and wonder. Some situations still creep in on the daily with worry, especially now that Whit is in kindergarten. Worries like: Are the kids nice to him?! Will he make a friend?! Do his teachers, therapists, and support staff love him?!
I wonder more on Vivi’s behalf than worry. She’s a feisty 3-year-old who loves to tell people how she likes things. She loves to tell people how Whitman likes things. The only thing I really worry about with her is if she’s going to be the nice kid?! Is she going to see someone struggling and run to their aide?! Is she going to stand up for injustice the way she stands up for not going to bed at bedtime?! Is she going to leave the world a little better than before her grand arrival?! Will she be there for Whit after we’re gone?!
We recently wrote a letter in case we die that talks about our kids. What they like. What they dislike. What stuffed animal goes where in Vivi’s bed. Which cup Whit uses for orange juice, which one he uses for water, and which one he uses for Sprite. It explains why we have Whit on meds and why we let Vivi dictate what she eats for the day and how you always ask her what plate she prefers or she’ll almost always pick the plate you didn’t give her. Which she will then tell you that you’ve ruined her life. It was the weirdest thing to do but I’m glad we got handled. It puts some worries away and leaves room to let us wonder.
The line from worry to wonder is thin. Worry keeps me up at night with a laundry list of things from basic needs being met to am I a good mom living up to the potential that I was called to be? Wonder makes me excited for the future. Wondering gives you a grand list of endless ideas of who and what your kids can become. It’s a never-ending story. I try to stay on the happiness and hope of wonder side. But sometimes the worry creeps in and drags me to the other. Both of my kids have amazing futures ahead of them. They could possibly be the exact opposite but their lives are full of potential. At the end of the day I think it’s important that they love each other and they know they’re loved by an amazing tribe of people. And that’s what makes all the worry worth it.
Lindsey is a mom, wife, and blogger at The Althaus Life. She lives in Ohio with her husband and 2 children. Lindsey is grateful all things and to be able to chronicle her beautifully broken laugh til you cry cry until you laugh life.
The holidays this year will be different and, for many, hard, but kids can help make others smile. America’s Test Kitchen Kids launched the #CookiesFromKids campaign inspiring kids to spread joy and bake for good this holiday season. Supporting the brand’s mission to empower and inspire confidence, community and creativity in the kitchen, America’s Test Kitchen Kids is encouraging kids to spend the month of December baking cookies and sharing them with friends, family, neighbors and members of the community including frontline workers, teachers, nurses, mail carriers, delivery personnel, and others.
America’s Test Kitchen Kids will donate $1 (up to $5,000) to No Kid Hungry for every photo posted on Instagram using #CookiesFromKids showcasing kid bakers taking over the kitchen to give back to their community.
Kids can follow four simple steps to participate:
Pick their person: Choose someone in your life who you think needs a little bit of (delicious) joy. It could be a grandparent, aunt, teacher, coach, babysitter, mail carrier, garbage man or neighbor—really, anyone!
Bake their cookies: Pick any cookie from America’s Test Kitchen Kids’ wide library of kid-tested recipes, including holiday favorites Glazed Sugar Cookies and Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, and start baking.
Send some joy: After your cookies are done, pack them up and drop them off or send them to your special cookie recipient.
Share: Have a grown-up share a picture of you and your finished cookie creations using the hashtag #CookiesFromKids for a chance to win a cookbook from America’s Test Kitchen Kids and to trigger a donation of $1 to No Kid Hungry during the month of December.
“During this unprecedented time we know it’s been difficult for many families who aren’t able to gather around the dinner table. There are also countless people who deserve our immense gratitude this holiday season,” said Molly Birnbaum, Editor in Chief of America’s Test Kitchen Kids. “We believe one of the best ways to feel connected is to give the gift of homemade food. Baking and sending cookies is a simple way kids can spread joy and show their appreciation during the holiday season.”
Everyone is excited about season two of The Mandalorian returning this week, even Stanley. The company behind the all-steel vacuum bottles America has grown to love and lean on has just launched a limited-edition collection with original artwork––and it won’t last long.
The Child-inspired Trigger-Action Travel Mug, Legendary Warrior Quencher and The Mandalorian-inspired Bottle were carefully considered and reflect natural elements from the show. You’ll be able to spot Mandalorian iconography and text written in Mando’a.
Each cup retail for $30 each and you can only find them at stanley1913.com, while supplies last.
The Child-Inspired Trigger-Action Travel Mug
This cup is all about The Child peeking and is made with double-wall vacuum insulation and a trigger-action, push-button lid for one-handed sipping. It keeps drinks hot for seven hours, cold for 10 hours and iced for 30 hours.
The Legendary Warrior Quencher
This warrior cup comes with a mythosaur insignia and “Legendary Warrior” written in Mando’a. The three-position lid lets you rotate the collar and sip through the opening, with or without the reusable straw or remove the lid all together. It keeps drinks hot for five hours, cold for nine hours and iced for 40 hours.
The Mandalorian-Inspired Bottle
The Mando-inspired bottle is double-walled and vacuum-insulated. It comes with an illustration of the Mandalorian’s helmet and the Mandalorian mantra on the side. It keeps drinks hot and cold for 15 hours and iced for up to two days.
Tis the season for Christmas trees, poinsettias, mistletoe and scented candles. But if your nose looks like Rudolph’s, it’s a little hard to feel jolly. Although allergies typically peak in the spring and fall, the holidays may surprise sensitive sufferers with a gift of unexpected triggers. Here are five holiday allergens and allergy triggers, along with some advice to help you stay merry and healthy during the holiday season—not sneezing, coughing or scratching.
Holiday Allergy Trigger #1: Christmas Trees
Mold is the biggest problem with live Christmas trees. Often, they are cut in advance and kept in humid environments, promoting mold spore growth. Within just two weeks of bringing a tree into your home, indoor mold counts can increase significantly, according to one study.
The sap contains terpene and other substances that can irritate skin and mucous membranes; and pollen stuck to the tree may be released inside and lead to reactions, so you make think an artificial version is better, BUT they could harbor dust and mold from their time in storage, also triggering allergies.
Precautions: Slip on gloves and wear long sleeves when handling your fresh tree to avoid the sap coming into contact with your skin. Before schlepping your tree inside, give it a good shake (or a blast with a leaf blower) and spray it down with a garden hose (especially the trunk) to help remove some of the pollen and mold. Then sit the stump in a bucket of water and let the tree dry for few days on a covered porch or in a garage. For an artifical tree, give it a good wipe-down before decorating with lights and ornaments. Follow directions carefully when spraying artificial snow or flocking. Inhaling these sprays can irritate your lungs and trigger asthma symptom s (better to avoid altogether in my opinion).
Holiday Allergy Trigger #2: Festive Foods
The most common food allergens are milk, eggs, soy, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, and wheat. Of those, peanuts and tree nuts will most often make it into holiday dishes without people knowing, and have the potential to cause severe reactions.
Precautions:: It’s a good idea to let your holiday host know about your food allergies; it’s important to ask about the ingredients in each dish; and it’s very nice to volunteer to bring something that’s safe for you, and shareable with others. But what’s crucial is to be prepared with an epinephrine auto-injector (Epi Pen), an emergency dose of antihistamine, and an inhaler if you have asthm. Learn which foods and recipes are unexpected sources of allergens at FoodAllergy.org and AAAAI.org.
Holiday Allergy Trigger #3: Cocktails
You raise a glass to your loved ones, your boss and colleagues, friends and neighbors, and even the strangers sitting next to you at a bar. There’s lots of celebrating at this time of year, but be mindful of what you’re using to toast. Some people may experience mild wheezing or other symptoms from the sulfites in wine, for example, and certain alcoholic beverages contain major food allergens.
Precautions: There aren’t good tests for sulfite sensitivity, but your reaction to dried fruit—high in this sulfur-based preservative—could be an indicator. Pay attention if you have asthma, as sulfites can trigger symptoms. Maraschino cherries contain small amounts of sulfites, as well. Stick with organic wine for a sulfite-free sip. Other triggers to be aware of: Tree nuts may be found specialty beers, particularly seasonal ales; milk is in Irish crème and white chocolate liqueurs; and egg whites may be used to add froth to specialty drinks.
Holiday Allergy Trigger #4: Travel
Staying in a hotel for the holidays may be wonderful, but not if you have allergies. Pillows and bedding can harbor a lot of dust mites. You may have difficulties with some of the detergents they use as well. If you will be staying with family, they’re pets may trigger your symptoms.
Precautions: Consider bringing her own pillow, or at least a dust mite cover for the pillow. Also make sure you get a nonsmoking room. If you’re allergic to your family’s pet, taking medicines with you. If possible, avoid petting the animal, and wash hands after direct contact.
Holiday Allergy Trigger #5: Stress
Be aware that stress can lead to asthma attacks. Chemicals released by the body during stressful times can cause the muscles around your airways to tighten, making it difficult to breathe.
Holiday Allergy Trigger, Bonus Round! Poinsettias
This festive plant is a member of the rubber tree family and contains compounds similar to those found in latex, so stay away if you have a latex allergy. Certain groups of people—such as healthcare workers and people with spina bifida who have had numerous surgeries—are more likely to be allergic to latex. One study Showed that 40% of latex-allergic individuals were also allergic to poinsettias.
The key is to be prepared and plan ahead. Consult with your doctor in advance.
Dr. Patel is an allergist in Pasadena California. She is board-certified in Allergy-Clinical Immunology and Pediatrics. She is the co-author of The Mommy MD guides to Twins Triplets and More! She understands that parenting is the hardest and most fulfilling job you can have. You can find her @TMommyMD.
While the world has been social distancing, family units have been getting a healthy dose of together time. Siblings especially have spent an extended amount of time together without friends or activities. Some days have probably been amazing. Others may look more like a WWE match. Hours upon hours of sharing and interacting can begin to wear any friendship thin.
Either way, it is normal for siblings to fight. Siblings rarely share similar personalities despite being raised in the same family. Differing ideas, preferences, goals, wants, needs, temperaments, and personality traits are going to create friction. Maybe even cause a few little fists to fly. Rest assured, there are things you can do to help your kids get along better, and also to change any behaviors that might trigger a tussle.
When your kids start to royal rumble, try these 6 strategies:
1. Let them work it out. The first thing to do if your kids are arguing is to wait and see if they can work it out themselves. Depending on the age of your children, sometimes they can come to a conclusion on their own. Do this only if the argument is verbal, never if it’s physical. If kids start physically fighting, stop it immediately and help them to calm their bodies.
2. Separate and calm. If you have a little one who immediately lashes out physically by pushing, hitting, or kicking, offer them something else to make contact with when they are mad. It’s never okay to hit, but you can punch a pillow, rip up a newspaper, or kick a bean bag chair. Then take some deep breaths and calm down.
3. Let them tell their story. Giving kids a chance to tell their side in an argument can be empowering. Even though to us it’s ridiculous to fight over the same stinking orange LEGO when a zillion other Legos are sitting right there, it’s a big deal to them. Feeling heard is essential. Often when my kids get a chance to tell their story, they can even catch a glimpse of how their actions added to the problem.
4. Verbalize feelings. Kids often react to emotions quickly and don’t always know what they are feeling. Saying the feelings out loud for them helps to ground them at the moment, and help identify what is going on internally. “Jimmy, it sounds like you are really mad that Lucy took that LEGO when you wanted to use it.” And “Lucy, you are feeling jealous of his LEGO house, and now your feelings are hurt because he said yours is dumb.” So often, when my kids hear me spelling it all out with their feelings, instead of telling them what to do, they feel validated and can move on. Sometimes they even apologize to each other without being prompted.
5. Pay attention to the need, not the negative behavior. When kids repeat the same frustrating behaviors that cause fights and friction, it is likely because they are trying to meet a need. For example, if a child is picking on their younger sibling to bug them, they are probably bored, jealous, or feel hurt by that child and want to pay them back. When we see negative behavior, we instantly want to give a consequence to make it stop. But when we do that, the child’s need fails to be met. The conflict will likely return. It is much better to ignore the behavior and pay attention to the need. When kids are fighting, say something like, “I wonder if you’re doing that because you’re mad/sad/worried/hurt?” This identification gives the feelings attention, not the negative behavior. Offer positive ways for the child to get attention, such as asking the sibling to play, for a hug or time together.
6. Shake some love. I remember a video I saw a few years ago where a mom talked about her “love shaker.” It was a can she had put rice in and taped up. Anytime her kids seemed like they were having a hard time, she would shake it over their heads and say she was shaking love all over them. I thought it was the sweetest idea, and while I still haven’t made a can of my own, I do something similar when my kids are bickering. Without teasing them or minimizing their problem, I start hugging them and telling them how amazing they are. I gush about how special and kind and thoughtful and gorgeous and funny they are. Sometimes I even use a silly accent. They giggle and roll their eyes and forget what they were fighting about in the first place. Sometimes kids are feeling bad about themselves and don’t know what to do with those big feelings, so they take it out on siblings. Shaking love on them and reminding each kid how awesome they are helps them feel good, like they want to share the love too.
Arguments between siblings are incredible learning lessons for how to interact and argue in healthy, appropriate ways within various relationships throughout their entire lives. Siblings fight, but they can learn to work it out, makeup, and get their needs met. The important thing is to stay calm and help each child verbalize feelings without throwing a fit or a fist. Godspeed, my friend.
Krissy Dieruf is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and three children, loves to sing and dance around the house and has a soft spot for rebels and crazy hair.
The holidays are a time when families come together to celebrate the season of gratitude and while the season is often marked by abundance, it can also be a time of great need. College students may be struggling emotionally, extended family members may be going to the food bank for the first time, a mom may be secretly going through a divorce and wondering how to get by during the coming year, and some family members and friends may be facing a diagnosis that will require hospitalization. Why not use this time together to look for and help your friends and family that could use an extra hand this holiday season? Here are five ways to weave compassion—for yourself and others—into the coming holidays.
1. Check-In: Don’t Assume It’s All Okay. Do you have a friend or family member that you think might be going through something? Check-in and ask. Offer to take them out to lunch, send them a card or a text. Make a phone call. You don’t have to pry into their life but be there and listen to what they have to say. The holidays can trigger all kinds of feelings and are a good time to touch base, especially amid the flurry of holiday cards and photos.
2. Listen to Understand. There’s a difference between “listen to talk” and “listen to understand.” Listening to understand means you’re actively listening to the other person. You’re not in the “problem-solving mindset,” you’re in the “exploration” mindset. Your friend may simply need to talk. Or they might need advice or a second opinion. Whatever it is, you won’t know unless you practice listening to understand. Creating space for those story-telling family members is a great place to start—studies show that recounting stories improves self-esteem in seniors.
3. Care for Yourself. Maybe you’re the one who is always there for everyone and always showing up when people need it most, and maybe this year, you’re going through struggles of your own. Tell someone you need to talk and make the time to do it, whether it’s a friend, a family member, a therapist, or a counselor. Your needs are valid and important and your family and friends will respect that you know how to ask for and get the help you need to live your best life. Make it the gift you give yourself this year.
4. Find Causes That Speak to You. Find nonprofits and causes that you can make an ongoing part of your life. Why? Because when a cause speaks to you, you’re more likely to look for creative ways to help it. When you’re actively involved with a cause you believe in, you’re more likely to talk about it with your friends and encourage them to give back in ways that are meaningful in their lives. Giving Tuesday is just one day, but a great day to start.
5. Get Organized. When you know someone who is going through a hardship, like a loved one in the hospital, the birth of a new baby, a sick child, or the death of a loved one, organize your friends and family to help them. This can be done with online tools like Give InKind that help you coordinate financial contributions, calendar tasks, chores, and more on a dedicated page that helps the person in need get exactly what they need.
Spending time with family is a great opportunity to pull together and make a plan to support someone you love. No matter how you give and give back this holiday season and beyond, stay mindful about those in need. May we all be lucky enough to not need, but when we do, may we all have the support of our loved ones and community to help us through.
Give InKind is an intelligent social support platform that helps friends and family coordinate tangible, financial, and emotional support for those who need it. Our custom Care Calendar + Wishlist + Fundraising in one free tool is making support simple. From new babies to cancer support, Give InKind.
Your little sugarplums may be squarely on Santa’s “nice” list—but all bets are off when they’re hungry and tired and waiting in a 45-minute line to see the Big Guy himself. Of course, teaching your child coping skills takes time, so we talked to an expert who gave us a moment-by-moment cheat sheet for handling those big emotions during the holidays. Keep reading for tips on how to keep your holiday helpers happy.
The Trigger: Crowds, temptation (TOYS!), overstimulation
“The holidays are kind of like going to war when you have kids,” said Kathina Firme, a California school psychologist who specializes in treating preschoolers. “Toddlers can get really overstimulated. It’s the people, the noise, the traffic. They just aren’t able to regulate themselves. You have to plan for that.”
The Solution: Get to the stores earlier in the day to avoid crowds. Before you go in, lay out the ground rules: (i.e. if you want to allow “just one small treat," explain that they have to stay close, etc.). “You can prevent a lot of tantrums by looking at the triggers," said Firme, who worked as a consultant on a genius go-to kit called Tantrum Fix, which comes with an assortment of items to help little ones calm down, mid-meltdown (and the proper language to use before they start simmering). “Most of those things, it’s like, ‘OK you’re hungry. You’re tired. You’re uncomfortable. It’s the same as adults but it’s more exaggerated because they can’t express that.”
Another tip: “You can prevent a lot of tantrums by meeting their basic needs,” Firme said. Be sure to bring snacks, and don’t be afraid to rely on electronics. If the grocery cart is the only place you let your little one loose with an iPad, lose the guilt. If it keeps everyone happy (and it’s limited), it’s all good, Firme said.
If you've got older kids, let them help find things at the store! Give them a scavenger hunt-style list of items to find and let them cruise the aisles. (Psst—we've got some great ones!)
The Trigger: Boredom. Attention is on the sibling. Hunger if the show is during dinnertime hours or tiredness if the show is at night.
The Solution: Distraction—and backup. Bring something for the child to do during the show or snack on in case he gets bored (lollipops work well because they're quiet, kids love them and they last longer than, say, fruit snacks). Sit near an aisle so you or your partner can make an easy exit if your little one just can’t sit still.
The Trigger: Overstimulation. Too many faces/people. Staying up past bedtime.
The Solution: If you know the party is going to go late, try to get your child to take a nap earlier in the day. Then, once you're at the party, try to steer end-of-the-night activities toward something more mellow (like a movie or coloring). When it's time to go, don't do long goodbyes, just get out while your kiddo is still in a good mood.
For older kids, try one of our awesome holiday scavenger hunts to keep them busy so you can mingle with the fam.
When You're Grocery Shopping/Waiting in a Checkout Line
The Solution: Keep children busy while you're waiting (see above link for line games). "I Spy" is an easy go-to game for little ones—as are these free printable scavenger hunts. Let kids help do the shopping by giving them things to put in the cart, or having them load the conveyer belt when it's time to pay. Praise them for being "helpers."
The Trigger: Anticipation of later events, parties, gifts, etc. Lack of sleep.
The Solution: Pack special "surprises" in your child's lunchbox, so she has something to look forward to during the school day. These can be special holiday snacks, a special note or a small toy (if that's OK with your child's teacher).
When You're on the Long Drive (or Flight) to Grandma's House
The Solution: Plan for the trip by making a special bag of treats/activities for the drive. These can be anything from a special holiday movie to a box of tiny wrapped toys (Dollar Store toys are totally fine!). If you need more ideas, see our list of simple air travel hacks for kids.
