Party Hard!

Kriselle Fonseca gives you sure-fire tips to ensure the apple of your eye is on her best behaviour at the next party…

- Kriselle Fonseca 

The holiday party season is upon us, which means it’s time for you to make a difficult decision. Do you check the “yes” box, the “no” box, or the “maybe” box on that party invite that’s been waiting for an RSVP? You’d really like to go, your kid would have a blast, but her behaviour has been too all-over-the-place to predict lately. (Not to mention, the party is in middle of her naptime). You check the “maybe” box for now, decide not to decide, and thank your lucky stars for the person who invented the “maybe” box, who you’re 100% sure, created the option for this exact situation.

We often don’t like to take risks. However, a “wait and see” kind of attitude is, not only unnecessary, but also counter-productive. The truth is that while you may not have total control over how our children act in any given situation, there are several things you can do to increase the likelihood that they behave themselves, and while they’re at it, even have a good time!

1 GATHER PARTY INFO

Find out as much information as possible about the get-together you’re planning to attend. Just how kid-friendly is the event? Are there any special activities planned? What kind of food will be available? For parents who have an easy, “go-with-the-flow” kind of tot, you may not need to ask many questions. For other parents, it might be necessary to know even the breed of dog the host owns! Either way, asking questions ahead of time ensures that you know what you’re getting yourself (and our baby) into, and saves you from spending the whole time trying to appease an antsy child.

2 KNOW YOUR TOT