Stress-Less Holiday Tips

For most of us, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas,Kwanza, Winter Solstice, New Years Day, and other holidays arrive sooner than we expect. During the holiday season, for many people are filled with the prospect of family gatherings which may bring on feelings of stress anxiety, and anguish. Plus, when holidays and celebrations take place without loved ones, they can be even harder to get through.

During holidays and other celebrations unrealistic expectations, unrealized hopes and unresolved conflict can bring on feelings of disappointment, loneliness, hurt, tension, depression, guilt, worry, lack of fulfillment, and anger.

Our fantasies about holidays and celebrations do little to solve your problems or “make our life better.” Remember, only YOU can make your life better.

Begin managing your holiday stress and prevent post-holiday depression today.

Be realistic with your expectations about the holidays. Keep the euphemisms about the holidays and celebrations in balance. Accept them for what they are at the moment.

If loneliness is a concern, get involved. Spend time volunteering or giving service to others is a sure way to alleviate feelings brought on by being alone.

Plan your holiday to reduce stress levels. Share the work load. Delegate responsibilities.

Manage your time and money. Learn to say “NO.”

Decide ahead of time what you can afford to spend. Use common sense.

Getting into debt will not make a “perfect” holiday.

If you are going home for the holidays, let your family know how you plan to spend your time. Give and get clarification about everyone’s expectations.

Strive to maintain a positive outlook. Celebrate in ways you have never tried before. Avoid “Scrooges” who criticize others or situations.

Take time to stop and breathe. Give yourself time to relax. Avoid excessive drinking.

Stick to your regular routine as much as possible. Changes in diet, exercise and lack of adequate sleep only contribute to increased stress levels

National Take Back Initiative

On October 29, 2011, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will be collecting potentially dangerous  expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at sites nationwide. This is a free and anonymous service and there are many locations in our local community! Drop off locations within 10 miles of Upper Perk Youth and Family Services can be found here. 

Prescription drugs are being misused and abused at alarming rates throughout the United States. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to abuse of these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicines, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away—both potential safety and health hazards.

Help make your home and our community a safer place for all by participating in this initiative!

Upcoming Family Fun Nights

Upper Perk Youth and Family Services is partnering with the Upper Perkiomen Valley Library to bring several family fun nights to the community! Reservations are requested for each event and can be made by contacting the library or YFS at 215-234-9372. All family fun nights will be held in the Upper Perkiomen Valley Library from 6:30-8:30pm. Each activity is free and includes story time, snacks, games and parenting information.

Thursday, October 20, 2011: Great Pumpkin Hunt

Go on a pumpkin hunt looking for clues to find the hidden pumpkins. Paint and decorate pumpkins to take home. Listen to Halloween stories, sing songs and share a snack together!

Thursday, December 1, 2011: Count Down to Christmas

Make a family “Count Down to Christmas” calendar and Christmas cards for the soldiers overseas. Bring in mittens and hats to donate to the mitten tree in the library. All mittens and hats will be donated to local families in need. Listen to Christmas stories, sing songs and share a snack together.

Thursday, January 19, 2012: Home Sweet Home

Play a human Parcheesi game! Your family members are the pieces in this fun game. Move around the floor game board and try to be the winning family by getting all your members home. You will move your family along the game board by winning challenges.

Thursday, March 15, 2012: Family Feud

Answer questions right and decide to accept the challenge or give the challenge to another family. The family with the most points win! Challenges are fun games and activities.

First Niagara Assumes Corporate Sponsorship

Youth and Family Services’ Board of Directors is pleased to announce that First Niagara is the Premier Corporate Sponsor for their Rockin’ Into the Holidays dinner and dance. First Niagara has a strong tradition of supporting non-profits in their community, especially those that promote children and youth, in a variety of ways. This annual fundraising event, to be held October 28th, from 7 to 11 pm at Bear Creek Mountain Resort, promises to be an exciting and entertaining event.

Youth and Family Services invites other community businesses to join with First Niagara and take on a sponsorship role for this event. Benefits will include marketing advantages, specialized recognition and a certificate of appreciation. Advertising monies directed back into the community benefit businesses and will help YFS host the best event ever. YFS faces continued financial stress due to United Way’s decision to focus on other goals and end funding support. Rockin’ Into the Holidays provides an opportunity for Youth and Family Services to recoup lost support.

The evening will feature music and dancing to an energetic and popular live band and a delicious dinner buffet. A unique and unusual silent auction is held throughout the evening.

Rockin’ Into the Holidays promises to be a fun-filled evening with hors d’oeuvres, a delicious dinner buffet, silent auction, dancing and entertainment. Proceeds help support the local programming for education and services Youth and Family Services provides to the community. Tickets are available by calling 215-234-9372 or at the YFS office, 1494 Gravel Pike, Green Lane.

School Bells Ring, Are You Listening?

With summer winding down, parents know that could mean just one thing – school will be back in session soon! According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), going back to school or a child care program often means two things to a child. 1) Stricter time schedule and 2) Adapting to a different caregiver, classroom, teacher, school, friends or academic challenges. As a result of these new experiences, children can face increased stress and they may resist necessary adjustments.

Smooth transitions are best accomplished when the adult caretakers of children try to view the situation from the child’s perspective. Parents should explain to children how routines will change and be specific (using age-appropriate terms) the expectations.

Creating a morning schedule or chart in pictorial form may assist younger children. Try a practice run of the new schedule several days before the first day of school – this can help prevent the child from being groggy and/or cranky on the first day of school.

Reading books with a child is a great way to introduce any new experience. Use the books to discuss how the school or child care environment may be different than a previous year or situation. If available, take advantage of open house or meet the teacher nights offered at many facilities.

When the first day of school is arrives, parents should exude confidence and positive feelings when saying good-bye. While parents may feel sad or fearful about this first day, these emotions can spoil a child’s enthusiasm for the first day if expressed too obviously. How parents and other adults handle difficult transitional situations, such as the first day of school, set the stage for how well a child will adjust to the changes.