As a busy mom, your schedule will undoubtedly become more hectic as the holiday season approaches. Along with your regular work, household, and family commitments, you also now will face getting your house and family ready for the holidays. When you have a dozen different holiday-related tasks to take care of and little time to keep your children entertained, you may wonder what you can do to keep the kids busy while you get ready for this festive season. By taking these suggestions, you can decorate your house, wrap presents, cook holiday treats, and otherwise get ready for this season while keeping your children occupied and safe.
1. Accept Family Help
If your mother or siblings offer to take your kids for an afternoon, you should accept this offer to help and use that time to get caught up on your holiday-related chores. Getting the kids out of the house for a few hours can give you time to wrap presents, clean, bake, or do whatever else must be attended to right away.
2. Entertain your Infant
If you have an infant at home, you understand the challenge that comes with keeping this little one amused and at peace. When you need to focus on a few holiday tasks, you can keep your baby occupied by laying him or her on a playmat. Lay your baby down in a safe area under a playmat and watch the smiles and entertainment begin. Babies can exercise, play, and nap close to you while you get your work done.
3. Let the Children Help
If your children are old enough to understand what is going on as you make the house ready for the holidays, you can enlist their help and make them feel like they are a part of the holiday preparations. You can ask your children to pick up their toys, hang decorations, mix cookie dough, and other smaller chores that are well suited for young children who are eager to bring the holiday merriment into your home.
4. Turn on the Holiday Cartoons
You may be the kind of parent who disdains letting the TV babysit your kids. However, during this time of year, it can be entirely reasonable for you to allow your children to enjoy a few episodes of holiday cartoons while you work on your holiday tasks. Many channels play around-the-clock holiday cartoons that are family-friendly and very amusing. Your children will love to see their favorite cartoon characters celebrate Christmas and you can take care of your cooking, wrapping, and other chores in peace.
5. Don’t Wait Until the Holiday Break Begins
If you have older children who are in school during the daytime hours, you would be well advised to do what you can to take care of these tasks when school is still in session. You can wait until your little ones at home take their naps and then bake some cookies, hang some lights, or take on other chores that are essential to getting the house ready for the holidays. If you wait until the older kids’ holiday break begins, your house may be too busy to get these tasks accomplished with all of the children at home together.
As a busy mom, you know that time can be of the essence during the holiday season. Taking these suggestions can let you get your holiday-related tasks done in good time. These tips will also help promote time, which can definitely help when we have so much to do during this time of the year.
As a mother of 4, Lisa Coleman understands the challenges that can come with the holiday season and the cumbersome stress that can ensue. She shares tips that can help a mom get some extra undisturbed time to get things done. She found when her children were infants that utilizing a playmat helped allow for some extra time, and was very beneficial.
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oufoufsworld/4179976696/
