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The holiday season is a time when many people make plans to get together with family and friends – some gathering close by and some traveling quite far – to celebrate and share togetherness, traditions, giving, gratitude, and joy.
So, why do some people seem to dread the holidays? Dwelling on past personal conflicts, differences of opinion that got heated, thoughtless comments that hurt someone’s feelings, and logistics that didn’t work out well, can all make it hard to enjoy the holidays.
What if we view holiday gatherings as an opportunity to set things right, make things better, and renew or rekindle caring relationships – with some healthy boundaries, travel safety plans, and tips for finding common ground and showing care and support to our loved ones in ways that work well for them?
Today, I want to invite you to check out some of our most popular resources and solutions for handling the relationship and safety challenges many people face during the holidays and family get-togethers. These resources offer helpful advice and tips on ways to navigate family time, make plans for safety for all ages and abilities who will join in, and set healthy boundaries to foster more fun and joy in spending time together for everyone. Each article is available in English and Spanish!
- How to Make Family Gatherings Great Instead of Awful
- Holiday Power Strategies: Take Charge of Emotional Safety!
- Holiday Boundaries: How Adults Can Help Kids Be Safe & Have More Fun!
- Holiday Outings with Kids: Safety Plans for Having More Fun and Fewer Problems in Public
- No Forced Kisses: A Holiday Safety Tip for Safer, More Joyful Gatherings
I’ve been reviewing them too, because – even though you’d think I live and breathe Kidpower safety and relationship skills – it’s been helpful to think through what we are planning this year, consider who we will be spending time with, reach out to check on what they may need to feel comfortable, decide what we need or want to change from prior gatherings, and work toward setting up ourselves and our loved ones for success to maximize our enjoyment in spending time together for the holidays.
Warm wishes to you and yours for a safe and joyful holiday season! – Irene & the Kidpower International Team
Published: November 18, 2021 | Last Updated: November 18, 2021
Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director
Kidpower Founder and Executive Irene van der Zande is a master at teaching safety through stories and practices and at inspiring others to do the same. Her child protection and personal safety expertise has been featured by USA Today, CNN, Today Moms, the LA Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Publications include: cartoon-illustrated Kidpower Safety Comics and Kidpower Teaching Books curriculum; Bullying: What Adults Need to Know and Do to Keep Kids Safe; the Relationship Safety Skills Handbook for Teens and Adults; Earliest Teachable Moment: Personal Safety for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers; The Kidpower Book for Caring Adults: Personal Safety, Self-Protection, Confidence, and Advocacy for Young People, and the Amazon Best Seller Doing Right by Our Kids: Protecting Child Safety at All Levels.