The holidays are a joyous time when loved ones come together to celebrate and share traditions. But for many families, the holidays are also a time of stress and frustration. For these families, current economic uncertainty can only exacerbate tensions.

“For many parents, the holidays bring extra demands on their time, money and energy,” said Christine Deyss, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse New York. “Parents suffering from personal and financial stress have a harder time meeting children’s needs and expectations. We’re trying to make parents aware of various strategies to help them cope with mounting stress.”

The following tips will help you enjoy the holidays while keeping tension to a minimum:

1. Establish a budget for holiday spending. Be realistic about what you can afford to spend on gifts, entertainment, decorations for the home, special foods, travel, etc.
   
   
2. Hold a family meeting to discuss holiday plans. Ask for ideas from the children for family activities that would appeal to them.
   
   
3. Post a calendar of family activities in a place where all family members will see it. Ask each person to remind you of school events, church activities, parties, etc.
   
   
4. Remind children that a gift’s importance is not determined by the amount of money spent on it. Handmade gifts and freshly baked cookies are welcome and appreciated by friends and relatives.
   
   
5. Check community calendars and local lists of events to find inexpensive or free activities for children. Write all possibilities on individual slips of brightly colored paper and put them in a “holiday fun jar.” When children have been especially cooperative with other family members allow them to choose a slip of paper from the jar. Then, the family can enjoy an afternoon of skating, sledding or other fun activity together.
   
   
6. Find time to relax and reflect on the simple joys of the holidays. When you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed, take a break to think about what needs to be done and what can be done.
   
   
7. If you find that it is becoming difficult to avoid being verbally or physically harsh with your children, STOP.  Don’t take out your anger on your kids. Instead take a deep breath and count to 20, go for a walk, call a friend or spend one hour doing something you really enjoy.
   

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