Tips to Help Parents and Children Enjoy the Holidays Without Stress and Overspending
The holiday season can be magical for young children, but it can also bring big feelings, disrupted routines, and more expenses than parents expect or can afford. Between child care and school events, parent work schedules, gift expectations, shifting routines, and the unpredictable economy, many parents feel stretched thin -- financially, emotionally, and physically. And when parents are overwhelmed and stressed, children often feel it, too.
While you may feel pressure to overspend during the holiday season, your little ones don’t need big budgets, fancy toys, or packed schedules to have a wonderful holiday. What they need most is connection, comfort, predictability, and a calm, loving adult guiding them through all the big moments and big feelings.
Holiday Harmony: Parenting Little Ones Through the Season with Sanity & Savings, a Georgia Parent Power webinar, shares trusted advice and tips from community moms who also have backgrounds in financial wellness, family wellbeing, and adolescent mental health. To help your child (and yourself) enjoy a holiday that’s joyful, meaningful, and manageable, we offer you some of their best tips.
Keep Holidays Simple and Child-Centered
Kids love having a voice in their family activities and being part of the action. Activities like making ornaments, letting them help decorate, choosing a dish for a family meal, or working on a family puzzle can become cherished traditions.
When you keep activities simple and hands-on, kids feel included and connected—and parents feel less pressure.
Let children help choose one tradition.
Swap big, complicated meals for kid-friendly favorites.
Try one activity at a time instead of cramming the calendar.
“The holidays are about quality time, such as doing things at home, creating ornaments, helping in the kitchen. Kids love sharing duties with Mommy and Poppy,” said Ruth Font, bilingual case manager with North Fulton Community Charities and a panelist in our holiday-themed webinar. “It’s about spending time together, being creative, and enjoying each other, and it doesn’t have to cost anything.”
Protect Routines (as Much as You Can)
Holiday schedules can throw little ones off balance quickly. It’s important for parents to set boundaries around events as toddlers and preschoolers do best when sleep and meal routines stay somewhat predictable. It’s okay to leave an event early or decline invitations that feel overwhelming. A well-rested child -- and parent -- makes for a happier, stress-free celebration.
Keep bedtime as close to normal as possible.
Schedule big events earlier in the day.
Leave parties and family gatherings before kids are overstimulated.
Build in downtime between outings: Take a nap, read a book, eat a snack.
Create Memories, Not Debt
With rising prices and social pressure, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling short if you can’t buy everything on a wish list. But children -- especially under age five -- rarely remember what they received. They remember what they experienced.
Low-cost traditions can be just as meaningful:
Drive or walk to look at neighborhood lights
Craft at home: make paper ornaments or pinecone decorations
Read holiday books or watch favorite movies in pajamas
Play a family board game, be creative with Play-Doh or art materials
Bake cookies and share them with neighbors
Visit city parks, libraries, or other free events
Font reminds us, “Use cash. Don’t use your debit or credit card. When you look into your purse and see what you have, it helps you stay within your limits. And if you’re on a tight budget, thrift stores can be treasure chests.”
Know When to Say “No”
You don’t have to attend every party, every parade, or every gathering. A crowded event with loud music and unfamiliar people can overwhelm young children. And when kids are overwhelmed, outings become stressful for everyone.
According to Beatriz Julio-Mauersberg, the panel moderator and financial wellness educator with Money Management International, “Expectations play a huge role in holiday spending. We want to please everyone and say yes to everything, and that creates pressure. Sometimes you just have to say, ‘We’re going to pass this time,’ so your family can stay balanced and enjoy the season.”
Ask yourself:
Will this event support my child’s well-being?
Do we have the time, energy, and budget for this?
Will saying “yes” make the day better—or harder?
Saying no is not selfish. It’s protective. It helps children feel secure, and it helps parents stay emotionally steady during a hectic season.
Prepare Kids for What to Expect and Be Ready to Pause and Comfort
Holiday crowds, noise, and new environments can be overwhelming.
“When a child is overwhelmed, the best thing you can do is step away. Let them know you’re there, reassure them, and give them space to calm down,” suggested Marquita Davis, a family therapist with CHRIS 180 and a mom of five. “You don’t have to force it just because you paid for the tickets or planned the outing. Your calm and their comfort matter more than finishing the activity.”
Davis said that preparing children ahead of time by telling them what to expect, what they might see, and where you can take breaks builds confidence and reduces meltdowns.
Before an outing or visit, use simple, calm language:
“There may be lots of people and loud sounds.”
“If you need a break, you can hold my hand and we’ll step away.”
“We might not stay long, and that’s okay.”
Care for Yourself, Too
The holiday season doesn’t just stretch children, it stretches grown-ups. Fatigue, financial worry, family dynamics, and social pressure can take a toll. And children are highly attuned to adult emotions.
It’s necessary that parents take care of themselves during this time too.
Take five minutes alone to breathe or stretch.
Prioritize a few of your favorites: a warm drink, a special snack just for you, resting alone.
Ask a partner or friend for help.
Let go of perfection.
Focus on What Matters Most
At its best, the holiday season teaches children generosity, togetherness, and gratitude. Whether your family celebrates with faith traditions, cultural customs, or simple winter rituals, young children learn through what they experience:
Slow moments
Laughter
Familiar routines
Being noticed, heard, and loved
When your child looks back years from now, they won’t remember the price of a toy. They’ll remember who sat beside them while they stirred the cookie dough. Who held their hand on the walk to see the lights. Who made time to slow down, sit close, and listen.
No matter your traditions or budget, remember this: your presence is your child’s favorite part of the holidays. With a little planning, a lot of grace, and a focus on connection, you can create a warm and joyful season your child will remember for all the right reasons.
And remember: if the season feels overwhelming, financially or emotionally, you are not alone. Support is out there. Community matters. Parents matter. You matter.
Get more holiday tips from Georgia Parent Power:
