For parents, the happiest time of the year can also be the most stressful. 

Busy parties. Strange foods served to picky eaters. The dread of worrying how your child will respond if they don’t like the sweater grandma gave them. 

On this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn and guest Dr. Karen Wilson share five key tips to prepare your family for the holiday season. 

Karen is a clinical neuropsychologist and, like Andy, a parent. So, get ready for tips that come from a mix of professional expertise and real-life parenting. 

Related resources

• How to make the holidays more fun for your child  
• 16 holiday survival tips for kids with ADHD
• Understood Assistant 

Timestamps

(00:55) What makes the holidays so hard?  

(02:45) Tip #1: Prepare yourself for stress

(03:59) Tip #2: Set up your child for success

(06:35) Tip #3: Create a schedule that works for you

(09:04) Tip #4: How to teach your child to accept gifts

(11:31) Tip #5: Plan ahead for picky eaters

We’d love to hear from you. You can email us at [email protected].

A transcript for this episode is available on Understood.org.  

Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give