A Parenting Expert Is Begging Moms and Dads To Stop Doing This 1 Common Thing During the Holiday Season ...Saudi Arabia

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, many parents are looking at their December calendars and figuring out exactly how to balance family activities with work commitments, kids' school schedules (and breaks) and holiday planning as a whole. We're making our lists and checking them twice, trying not to forget any important priorities as the end of the year nears.But there's one common thing families often plan to do during the holiday season that Devon Kuntzman, parenting expert (with 942k followers on Instagram) and ICF-certified coach, is begging moms and dads to actually avoid this year.The author of Transforming Toddlerhood tells Parade which festive tradition she's begging parents to stop, and why it's so concerning. Plus, she shares how this important warning can also be applied to general family gatherings, which should help children feel more empowered.Related: Child Psychologists Are Begging Parents and Grandparents To Start Using This One Confidence-Boosting Phrase

#1 Tradition To Stop During the Holiday Season, According to Parenting Expert

Throughout December, moms and dads are often trying to pass down certain holiday traditions in their families. Maybe you go Christmas caroling together, or perhaps you spend a Saturday volunteering with friends—there are plenty of seasonal activities that have a positive impact on each individual family member. However, there's one specific tradition that should be avoided this year—and beyond, according to Kuntzman."Stop forcing your baby or toddler to sit on Santa’s lap and stop laughing at the picture of them crying while doing it," she tells Parade. "Making an upset child sit on Santa’s lap crosses their body boundaries that they are trying to communicate the best way they know how in the moment." This might surprise some parents. After all, many of us grew up doing this same activity, and we might even look back at old photos of our experience and laugh at the captured reactions.But it can invalidate the very real feelings a young kid might be experiencing."A child’s distress is never funny," Kuntzman continues. "Just like it’s not funny to scare a young child on Halloween. Children are not here for our amusement; they are here relying on us to meet their needs."Related: 10 Things Every Kid Needs To Hear From Their Parents and Grandparents, Child Psychologists Say

Courtesy Harper Horizon

OK, so you might have no problem avoiding Santa at the mall this year. But what about when you see your young child getting nervous or uncomfortable with people who aren't exactly strangers? The same general rules apply."This also goes for forcing physical touch at holidays, such as hugging Aunt Sue or kissing Grandma," Kuntzman explains. "We can teach kids how to greet others without crossing their body boundaries. We want kids to have strong body boundaries to protect them from grooming and abuse."Related: This Is the #1 Screen Time Mistake for Toddlers, Parenting Expert Warns

The Importance of Cultivating Consent and Body-Safety Skills

If you haven't started doing this already, it's the perfect time to begin teaching your children about boundaries and body-safety—for example, letting them know that they can politely but firmly say "no" to a hug, or offer to give a high-five or nod instead."This is one of the most important things you can do as a parent, as toddlers are the most vulnerable to abuse—as they are very dependent on adults to get their physical and emotional needs met, but also lack expressive language skills," Kuntzman tells Parade. "So giving them the language they need to describe the most sensitive areas of their body is very empowering for them."

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Related: This Is the #1 Thing Parents and Grandparents Should Do Before the Holidays

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