Focus on Holiday Tips for Families

Please [click here]( if you have problems viewing this message. Find Us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( [HealthyChildren.org]( The only site and newsletter backed by 67,000 AAP pediatricians! [Prenatal]( [Baby]( [Toddler]( [Preschool]( [Gradeschool]( [Teen]( [Young Adult]( Joyful Noise & Holiday Stress: Tips for Families December 2023 | Issue 240 [parent breastfeeding baby]( [Joyful Noise: Protect Little Ears This Season]( Bells may be ringing this holiday season, but your kids' ears shouldn't be! When not used safely, ear buds or headphones can present a significant risk to a child's hearing. Of course, these devices and accessories also happen to top many holiday wish lists. Beyond tech gifts, there are other holiday hearing hazards. Think noisy toys given as gifts, for example, and noisy gatherings such as parties and concerts. Hearing problems that result from exposure to [loud noise]( is of special concern for children today. An estimated 1 billion or more young people are at risk for hearing loss from unsafe listening habits. That's one reason we recently [sounded the alarm]( on excessive noise exposure for kids. [Find our tips]( to help protect your kids' hearing from too much noise while enjoying the best of the holidays. Also see: - [How Noise Affects Children]( - [10 Non-Tech Holiday Gift Ideas for Kids]( [parental guidance media ratings]( [Tips to Manage Stress During the Holidays]( The holiday season is a time to enjoy cherished traditions. But for many families, the "happiest time of the year" can also mean unmanageable stress. Here are a few suggestions for navigating hectic end-of-year activities. They can help your family feel more balanced (and possibly a little more joyful, too). [Go to article.]( [PowerPlay_200_2098436.jpg]( Into the Color Zone Emotions are complex. One way to help children understand them better is with [color zones]( a tool that child therapists sometimes use: - Blue=sad or bored - Green=calm and focused - Yellow=anxious, silly or agitated - Red=angry, scared or out-of-control Try this: Use color zones as the basis for a fun little art project. Have kids draw faces to go with each color zone, for example. Then, tape up the chart in a handy spot. When your child has trouble managing their emotions, you can point to it and ask, "How can you get back down to the green zone?" Read more tips in this month's Power of Play article, [4 Play Activities To Help Children Manage Emotions](. Find free December printable play sheets [here](. Also on HealthyChildren.org: [School Breaks: Swap Screens for Play]( [Ask the Pediatrician: Are e-bikes safe for children?]( [Suicide Prevention: 12 Things Parents Can Do]( [Building Healthy Places for Children to Thrive: AAP Policy Explained]( [5 Great Reasons to Cook With Your Kids]( [4 Ways to Keep Kids Safe & Healthy During the Winter Holidays]( Thank You to Our Sponsors: [211125_SANOFI_LOGO_RGB_200_2137356.png]( [melissa2_2006054.jpg]( [melissa2_2006054.jpg]( [AAP]( The AAP is the world's largest publisher of pediatric content. [HealthyChildren.org]( is the digital extension of the AAP mission to provide the most trustworthy health content to parents and caregivers at home, on the go, and from anywhere in the world. The information contained on this newsletter and on [HealthyChildren.org]( should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances. © Copyright 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics. All rights reserved. American Academy of Pediatrics | 345 Park Blvd. | Itasca, IL 60143, USA [Log Into Your Account]( | [Contact Us]( | [About Us]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Terms of Use]( | [Editorial Policy]( [Unsubscribe]( American Academy of Pediatrics, 345 Park Boulevard, Itasca, IL 60143