The holiday season can be especially challenging if you’re dealing with circumstances that might trigger emotions of sadness, depression, anxiety, uncertainty, or loneliness, to name a few.

Being able to prioritize your mental health and realizing that everyone grieves differently is one of THE most important things you can do during the hustle and bustle that this time of the year can bring about.

Our team of professional Mental Health experts has rounded up some ways to help cope with the heaviness of losing someone.

We hope that you find these practices to be helpful for you and your family this holiday season

At-home activities to keep your mind occupied, reflect, and maybe make new memories and traditions:

Red flag/warning signs to be on the lookout for which might indicate that professional help might be needed:

Mental Health Therapy visits focus at Marshall focus on providing encouragement and support in order to create a more balanced, loving, and overall successful home life. By working with both the child and the family using proven psychological methods, Mental Health Therapy can help manage and even eliminate a variety of mental illnesses and emotional difficulties.

https://marshallpediatrictherapy.com/services/mental-health-therapy

How do we address Mental Health at Marshall Pediatric Therapy:

Children might benefit from receiving Mental Health Therapy even without a diagnosed medical condition. Children who exhibit feelings of worthlessness that lead to depression or anxiety, have difficulty paying attention, and often show signs of physical complaints such as fatigue and withdrawal from social activities may require Mental Health Therapy. At Marshall Pediatric Therapy, we offer sessions individually or as a family if necessary. Receiving Mental Health Therapy does not require a referral. For a list of current insurance coverage and providers, you may reference:

https://marshallpediatrictherapy.com/billing-and-insurance

For a list of helpful links that could help support specific Mental Health Therapy: 

https://marshallpediatrictherapy.com/helpful-links

Ways to Handle Grief 

One of my favorite traditions of the holidays is stockings. There’s just something SO FUN about searching and finding “all of the things” for that special someone and seeing how many items you can make fit in that elongated sock.

This year, I’ve gathered a list of ten popular sensory-sensitive items that would make great stocking stuffers for the kiddos on your list! Sensory play helps to encourage problem-solving and creativity. The clinicians at Marshall incorporate sensory play into sessions to help improve things such as but not limited to:

Use the links below to stem some inspiration and cross off a few kiddos on your list this year!

Sensory-Friendly Stocking Stuffer Ideas

When I was a little girl feeling uncomfortable, insecure, or frightened, I used to imagine my entire body inside a giant, clear bubble of protection. Nothing could get me and I was safe. As I got a little older, I wondered, had I shared my giant bubble of protection with them, would my classmates’ houses have burnt down, would my brother’s bullies have left him alone...? It’s often a helpless feeling to be a child trying to protect yourself and other children.

Childhood experiences certainly become more relevant after we have children of our own. We start to take, personally, the role that caring adults should have and realize that children have a vital need for nurturing guidance, and support. As parents, caretakers, and educators, we try to help young people make sound judgments when coping with danger or uncertainty, realizing that this important life skill will take them into adult life.

Resources are critical for a child’s success and safety education is an important aspect to include. Unfortunately, there is a lack of time spent on safety issues. Safety experts and organizations estimate that between 75 and 90 percent of tragedies could be avoided through better safety awareness and prevention. There’s a tendency to discuss safety measures only after a tragedy occurs rather than spending efforts and resources on prevention.

Knowing the significance of safety preparation and wanting children to feel safe, I wrote an interactive children’s safety book called Safety Safari. It introduces sensitive and frightening topics in a non-threatening way. The information can be reiterated over and over again until children respond instinctively. Safety Safari also encourages children to read, write and communicate. Teaching our children how to evaluate and respond to ambiguous situations empowers them and leads to successful outcomes. What would your child do if he/she gets separated from you in a store? Are your kids protecting themselves online? Does your family have a meeting spot outside in case there’s a fire inside your home? These are just a few of the topics Safety Safari covers.

I always open the floor up to questions or comments after reading my book to groups of children. Sometimes the experiences children describe, in relation to topics in my book, are unsettling. It is alarming and upsetting to hear about their close calls. For me, this further reinforces the need for safety tools and safety discussions. Such resources not only educate children but provide parents and caregivers peace of mind. A tremendous impact can be made and lives saved if we all lead children to examine scenarios and help them practice what to say and how to react so that they have every advantage when faced with the unknown.

Acclaim Press 1-877-4AP- BOOK (1-877-427-2665) 

https://www.acclaimpress.com/books/safety-safari/

Teaching Children to Stay Safe 

One of the most challenging aspects of parenting toddlers is learning to manage their temper tantrums. Besides being frustrating and exhausting, watching your child have frequent outbursts can make you feel like having one of your own. 

Still, it is important to remember that temper tantrums are a normal part of toddlerhood. By recognizing what might be causing their meltdowns, you can prepare yourself to deal with them in a compassionate, effective manner. Here is what you should know about handling your toddler's temper tantrums.

Toddlers are not as complicated as they might seem. In most cases, a young child will have a meltdown for one primary reason: they want something. For younger children, temper tantrums often stem from an inability to communicate their needs. However, older toddlers may be able to let you know what they want but don't have as much independence as they'd prefer.

Regardless of the cause of your child's temper tantrum, it is important to remember that every toddler has emotional outbursts, and their behavior is not a sign that you are failing as a parent. By not taking their meltdowns personally and responding calmly, you can help your child learn boundaries and control their emotions while feeling supported by you. Keep these tips in mind to help you do just that.

Your child will behave the way they see you behave. If you raise your voice when you're angry, so will they. With this in mind, do your best to 

 when your toddler has a temper tantrum. If you yell at them, be sure to apologize and follow up by responding more appropriately.  

Aggressive behavior is never acceptable, even when a young child is frustrated. If you see your toddler hitting, kicking, or behaving aggressively, do not wait to correct them. Let them know at the moment that it is okay to feel angry or frustrated, but it is never okay to hurt others or destroy things.

Everyone feels frustrated from time to time when they can't do something they want to; toddlers are no different. If you see your child getting angry because they are incapable of performing a certain task, such as putting on their shirt, turn their frustration into empowerment by showing them how to do it correctly.

Speaking with brevity and clarity can often help de-escalate an emotionally-charged toddler. Rather than throwing a lot of lengthy or vague commands at your child, which will inevitably get tuned out, let them know exactly what you want from them by speaking in short, clear sentences. 

Temper tantrums aren't a free pass that can get your child out of doing something they don't want to do. After they've calmed down from a meltdown, follow through with whatever you told them to do that caused the outburst in the first place. When they do what you ask, shower them with plenty of praise to reinforce their positive behavior.

As soon as a tantrum is over, your child has likely forgotten about it. Don't ruin everyone's day by holding onto it yourself. While meltdowns can be hurtful, remember that they're a way for your toddler to blow off steam, not a personal attack on you as a parent. 

When Should I Call a Pediatric Therapist?

Usually, temper tantrums during toddlerhood are nothing to be worried about. However, it may be worth consulting a 

Marshall Pediatric Therapy is Here for You

You don't have to manage your toddler's temper tantrums alone. The experienced team at 

 can give you the tools you need to support your child as they learn to communicate effectively, deal with negative emotions, and recognize boundaries. 

How To Handle Toddler Tantrums

ommunication. AAC is communication in a variety of ways, other than talking. This could be Alternative communication, to be used in place of speech. Or it can be Augmentative, to be used to support speech in order to make it more effective. 

AAC can include no-tech options, low-tech options, or high-tech options. Examples include:

AAC can be used for a variety of individuals, including young children with developmental disabilities, Autistic individuals, or adults who have acquired a disorder later on in life. 

These modes of communication allow for independence in the user’s environment. This could include allowing a child to communicate wants at home, being able to participate in conversations at school, making friends with same-age peers, and advocating for themselves in a variety of situations

All individuals have the fundamental right to communication. Reach out to your therapists with any questions you may have. 

https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/professional-issues/augmentative-and-alternative-communication/#collapse_1

https://www.asha.org/njc/communication-bill-of-rights/

From Our Experts

Ways to Handle Grief

Sensory-Friendly Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Teaching Children to Stay Safe

How To Handle Toddler Tantrums

AAC. What is it, and is it Right For My Child?