The holidays are meant to bring joy, gratitude, and celebration. But for many children (and parents!), the holidays can feel a bit overwhelming due to a lack of control. Schedules shift, unfamiliar people are around, and social expectations can be challenging. Our kids may need a little extra support to feel safe during this season.
As someone who teaches families about healthy, safe development, I’m always mindful that most unsafe situations for kids involve people they already know**. This means we must stay attentive.
Here are a few gentle ways to support your children over the holidays:
- Give them permission to stay close. Let them know they can always stay near you or take a break from the group if they need to.
- Create a safe signal. Come up with a code word or specific gesture they can use to let you know they’re uncomfortable or need help.
- Invite open communication. Encourage them to tell you if they see or hear anything confusing, surprising, or unkind (especially bad pictures!).
- Review body safety basics. Remind them they never have to accept touch they don’t want, that we don’t keep “bad secrets,” and that their body is to be respected.
- Have a check-in afterwards. At bedtime or in the car, ask questions to review the night.
These small check-ins build trust and safety. They’re part of the reason I created Sex Ed Reclaimed: to equip parents with the language and tools to guide their children through seasons like these.
Sex ed isn’t a one-time talk; it’s a lifelong conversation.
And you don’t have to start from scratch.
You can find all these conversations already written for your family right on this page.
Kristen