How to Survive the Holidays With a Toddler

The holidays can be the most magical time of year -- but let's be honest, if you have a willful, impulsive toddler (in other words, if you have a toddler) it can also be the most trying. Here are five common tantrum triggers, and how to keep them from turning into holiday horrors.
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The holidays can be the most magical time of year -- but let's be honest, if you have a willful, impulsive toddler (in other words, if you have a toddler) it can also be the most trying. Swarms of visiting relatives and a cacophony of music, tinsel, presents, and candy can create a perfect storm of over-stimulation that can cause your little one -- who is still learning how to process all the excitement and manage his frustrations -- to act more like a demon than an angel. But with a few of my tried-and-true toddler techniques, you can nip their challenging-est, Grinch-iest behavior in the bud.

Here are five common tantrum triggers, and how to keep them from turning into holiday horrors.

Trigger #1: The Giant Chocolate Santa

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