Parents' Corner

Visiting Grandma and Grandpa for the Holidays with your Toddler

Posted by David Smith on Mon, Dec 30, 2013 @ 08:13 AM

Grandma/Grandpa HolidaysFamily time is precious any time of year, but there’s something about the holiday season that makes it take on a special meaning. Visiting Grandma and Grandpa for the holidays, whether that means travel to their home or a visit to yours, will go smoother if everyone understands what’s expected of them.

What contributes to a more successful holiday visit?

  • Staying on schedule. A visit to Grandma and Grandpa’s house is exciting and stimulating – which can lead to interruptions in naptime or bedtime and the crankiness that accompanies it. Stay as true as possible to your toddler’s familiar schedule of meals, playtime and sleep, including on Christmas Eve or other nighttime events. Having your parents tuck your tot into bed and read the bedtime story can build great memories for everyone involved.
  • Reinforcing family relationships. It can be eye-opening for your toddler to see you calling someone “mom” or “dad.” This is the age where a child begins to understand how generations work and that the bonds of family go beyond the home. Reinforce family time by bringing out some photos of relatives from the present or the past to give your child the “story” of your family.
  • Knowing when the “spoiling” goes overboard. Of course, spoiling your child is every grandparent’s job, but not at the cost of creating a demanding brat or fostering a too-much-candy tummy ache. If you have concrete rules – no hard candy, for instance – expect your folks to abide by them. On the other hand, you can relax some rules during a visit, provided you also enforce the idea that what happens at Grandma’s house stays at Grandma’s house.

If you are still working during the holidays, remember Horizon Education Centers provide a quality childcare environment for your toddler even when Grandma and Grandpa come to visit you.

Topics: Travel Tips, Toddler Care

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