The holiday season arrives with excitement, anticipation—and often, a lot of pressure. There are celebrations to plan, people to see, traditions to uphold, and through it all, the quiet hope that somehow, this season will feel meaningful for your children. But here's the question: "How do I help my child manage the stress without losing what makes the holidays special?" Here's what most parents don't realize: your kids won't remember if everything went perfectly—they'll remember how it felt to be included, to contribute, and to be surrounded by people who love them. Discover how to support your child through holiday stress while creating connection that actually matters.

Your child melts down halfway through their own birthday party. Your eight-year-old refuses to participate in the family gathering they were excited about yesterday. Welcome to the paradox of celebrations with growing humans while these events are meant to be joyful, they often trigger big emotional responses. Between excitement, overstimulation, disrupted routines, and high expectations, celebrations can overwhelm children's still-developing emotional regulation systems. You find yourself wondering: "How do I help my child enjoy special occasions without falling apart?" Managing kids emotions during celebrations isn't about creating perfectly behaved children who smile through every event it's about teaching them to experience the intensity without being completely overwhelmed. Discover practical techniques that actually work.

CBT has long been the gold standard for treating childhood anxiety, but the SPACE approach offers a revolutionary alternative. By focusing on reducing parental accommodation and empowering parents as agents of change, SPACE has shown comparable effectiveness to CBT in studies, offering a viable option for children who struggle with traditional therapy methods.