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'Tis the Season for a Stress-free Holiday

10 Parenting Tips That Will Bring Back the Joy and Peace

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7. Solve the problem of hard-to-buy-for teenagers by taking them shopping with you.
Let them pick out clothes and try them on. Be attentive as they show you what's what in MP3 players, cell phones, digital cameras or video games. Together, you can make choices that are mutually agreeable.
 
8. Volunteer your services to a local nonprofit agency one Saturday in December – and take your kids with you.
When they spend an afternoon wrapping "Toys for Tots" or giving out goods at a food pantry, they'll understand the joy of giving in ways you could never explain. "It's important that your kids learn that not everyone will be having as happy a holiday as they will," Bentz says. "Volunteering their time to help others will help them understand that the holidays aren't only about getting gifts, attending parties and eating holiday treats."
 
9. Plan ahead for some quiet family time.
Whatever holiday you celebrate – Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or something altogether different – be sure to build in some time for relaxation and family togetherness. Spend a leisurely afternoon decorating the festive cookies the kids will leave out for Santa or making the candles for the menorah (most craft stores have simple candle-making kits), or drawing pictures that represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa. And try to spend some quiet time resting, reading or listening to music before you attend the religious or cultural service of your choice. This will put you into the spirit of togetherness, ready to enjoy the feelings of peaceful awe and quiet contemplation that infuse the meaning of the season.
 

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