From Kids Corner we are all excitedly looking forward to Christmas. The preschoolers I work with are excited about making Christmas decorations as well as decorating our tree. I fondly remember my toddler son many years ago, who was so excited about decorating our home Christmas tree that he threw his dad’s car keys up into the tree with the lights and the garland! Needless to say my husband was late to work on that first day after we had decorated the tree. As a classroom teacher, mom and now children’s director over the years I have asked myself this question especially this year: what advice can I offer to parents and caregivers of young children on how to keep the holiday safe and less stressful for their young child?

r In keeping your child safe with holiday decorations, make sure your Christmas tree is sturdy in the stand. Toddlers and twos love to crawl, climb and pull. Strand your string of lights, garland and tinsel up in the tree way out of reach of chubby young hands that could get choked if the string or chord wraps around their necks. Too, plug in the tree lights where the young child cannot get to and get shocked or even electrocuted. Keep extension cords hidden.  Remember candles are a fire hazard. Too try to place your holiday decorations up away from young hands that could easily put them in their mouths and choke. Make sure your young child doesn’t play with holiday plants because some of them just might be poisonous.

r Providing your young child with a holiday with less stress, be sure to keep your young child on a routine. Try to meet the set meal time, nap time, and bedtime. Remind your young child to keep their hands washed and clean to keep colds and flu away. Be sure they eat nutritious meals even on the run and not “junk” foods.  In traveling long distances over the holidays be sure to provide activities such as books, puzzles, coloring books, listening tapes and a few favorite toys for them to play with.  Plan a simple schedule for your young child. Set the expectations and guidelines on behavior. This lessens stress.

Beth Pinyerd lives in Daphne and serves as director of younger children at Faith Family Fellowship in Spanish Fort.

Her column appears regularly in The Bulletin.