Ask whether they know of anything at home that may be troubling the child. But, in the last few weeks, he has been getting into more disagreements. Sometimes the excitement of the holidays makes some kids upset. This gives the parent the chance to talk about his or her own observations and to offer information that may account for the child's behavior. However, be careful in assuming that a family situation is the sole reason behind a child's behavior.
Holidays create stress for all families.
The behavior you observe may simply reflect the tendency of all families to do too much or have unrealistic goals during the holiday season. It takes most children some time after the holidays to unwind and get back into daily routines. Finally, be realistic about what you can and cannot do. Remember that there are many aspects of the child's life over which you have little control. You may hear stories from children about conflicts between parents or competition for children's loyalty that you think are unhealthy for children.