I recently came back from a one week family holiday, and as always made some realizations about my kids! We stayed at a cottage where the surroundings were brand new, lots of new activities and people to meet, and of course a change in the day to day routine. I quickly noticed that my toddler was becoming overstimulated - he became rather hyperactive and cranky, and at night had difficulty falling asleep. A change in routine, and even a holiday, can be stressful for kids. I learned from first-hand experience that it's best to maintain some routine for the kids, and often the best place to start is with naps. Once we got our kids back on their regular napping schedule they were able to handle all the new activities with ease, and it really helped them settle at the end of the day as well. Over-tired children are not only cranky, but they don't sleep well at night. The other thing to remember is to offer regular snacks. Busy children that are having fun on the beach will often ignore the natural hunger signals. The drop in blood sugar can leave them irritable. Having nutritious and easy snacks with you is a great idea. Some suggestions:
-cut up fruit or veggies
-almond butter on rice crackers
-granola bars (watch the sugar content)
-trail mix (make your own)
-whole grain crackers and cheese
-bean dip (hummus)
-fruit smoothies (made with almond or soy milk and fruit)
So even on holidays, resist the temptation to just 'let go' of it all, and try to keep some order for the health of the kids!
Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Founder
Olive Baby
www.OliveBaby.ca
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