We all know parenting kids during school breaks can be challenging. It can be even more difficult if you have a child who deals with distractibility and hyperactivity. Here are a few ideas to help keep you sane over the holiday season.

Continue to set appropriate limits with the kids. Sometimes it is easy to let things slide during holidays and breaks, but kids must have consistency to feel safe in their environment. Inconsistency often breeds chaos. Kids will behave much better when they understand the expectations and the rules. Our expectations for our kids should not change. We can’t have one set of expectations that we enforce through the school routine months and then throw them out the window when holidays arrive.

Expectations like obedience (doing what you are asked to do, when you are asked to do it, without complaining), respect for self and others (don’t hurt yourself, others or property), and responsibility (take care of your things and always tell me where you are going) must continue. We can change the bedtime rule to an hour later or give extra treats, but let the kids know these rule changes, additions and rewards are privileges earned for following the basic expectations.

When your kids misbehave or push the limits, be kind, but do enforce the limit.

You are the boss. Set kind, firm limits with your kids and you will be surprised at their compliance. Above all, they want to know you love them. Setting limits is one way you show your child you care about them too much to let them misbehave.

If you have a distractible child, give short commands and reminders. Example: "Go upstairs, get dressed, put on your shoes, and come downstairs."  Then repeat, "Up, dressed, shoes, down," or, "teeth, hair, shoes, down". If you repeat the basics of the command, and they repeat it back to you, they are much more likely to remember. Give three to four commands at most. You will also get a better response if they maintain eye contact with you when they repeat the command.

Post reminders around the house.

Type daily reminders and post them around the house. For example, on the bathroom mirror, "STOP:  Things to do before you leave the bathroom". List brush teeth (with toothpaste and water), brush hair (with hairbrush), put your stuff away. Mount a small wipe off board next to the door you use to leave the house, write reminders on the board. Example, "STOP:  Backpack, homework, lunch". In the winter that list might be, "STOP:  Jacket, gloves, shoes, hat."  Kids need reminders and sometimes so do we.

Have fun with your kids this Thanksgiving and Christmas season. Spend time with them. Build forts in the living room. Read to them. Listen to books on tape together. Play games inside or out. Take lots and lots of pictures. Show them they are a priority to you and you love them. Have a great holiday season!

Written by Jamie Brandon, M.S.