Ingredients for Successful Holiday Meals with Children, by Dr. Brad Schwall

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Ingredient 1:  Preparation

• Focus discipline on prevention.
• Provide activities that keep children busy.
• Balance time during which being calm and still is expected with time when playing is appropriate.

Ingredient 2:  Routine

• Prevent children from becoming too tired, hungry, or over-stimulated by maintaining their routine as much as possible.
  

Ingredient 3:  Clear expectations

• Let your child know exactly what behavior is expected.
• Go over appropriate voice volume, the importance of sharing, staying calm inside the home, and manners.

Ingredient 4:  Patience

• Avoid showdowns.
  
• Describe exactly what you want your children to do without criticizing, raising your voice, or making threats you cannot or will not enforce.

Ingredient 5:  Conversation

• Include your children in conversation.
  
• Ask your children questions.  Allow them to contribute to the discussion.  
• Engaging children in conversations teaches them communication skills and social skills -- and it keeps them busy.