Hosting visitors during the holiday season can be a joyous but challenging experience, especially when you're also juggling the demands of parenting young children. Here are some practical tips to help you enjoy more of the fun parts, less of the stress!

1. Prepare guest spaces with strategic separation

If they’re staying in-home with you, set up your guest room or space with everything your visitors might need before they arrive. This includes clean towels, extra blankets, and toiletries. If possible, create a bit of privacy for your guests, especially if your children are likely to be curious and energetic. A well-prepared space helps guests feel at home and reduces last-minute scrambling.

3. Stick to your child’s usual routines as much as possible

It’s okay to follow slightly looser rhythms to coordinate with visitors, but avoid dropping your child’s core routines around feeding, sleeping, and eating, which can backfire with dysregulated behaviors. For example, if your child normally goes to bed at 7:30 p.m., try to prompt their usual bedtime routine within a similar window. Staying up a tad later to finish a game with loved ones won’t totally ruin things, but pushing them into an “overtired zone” can backfire. Tune into your own child and don’t hesitate to advocate for when you need to step away from things.

4. Offer flexible meals

When planning meals, consider a buffet-style setup where everyone, including your children, can help themselves at their own pace. This allows you to cater to different tastes and dietary needs while also accommodating your children’s meal times. It’s also a low-stress way to keep everyone fed without needing to stick to a rigid dining schedule.

5. Honor a "quiet time"

It’s perfectly okay to explicitly let your guests know when your children usually nap, and kindly request that they keep noise to a minimum during those times. A quiet hour in the afternoon can often be mutually beneficial, as even most grownups – especially on travel – enjoy the chance to rest and recharge, too. They may not always know how to advocate for it, and so having it come from you can be a welcomed break. “I don’t know how you’re feeling, but this is usually our rest hour! I’m going to help her settle in her room for a little quiet time, but we’ll be back in a bit to regroup! Please make yourself at home to any drinks or food!”

6. It’s okay to set boundaries

It’s okay to be upfront with your guests about the challenges of hosting with young children. If you need a bit of time to tend to your kids, or if certain activities will be difficult for you to participate in, let them know. Most guests will appreciate your honesty and will be more than willing to adjust their expectations. “A movie in the theaters sounds so lovely! It’s a little difficult to wrangle the kids this young in a theater, so we can stay back, but go ahead and enjoy!”

7. Accept help

Don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it. Whether it’s asking a guest to entertain your children while you finish cooking or arranging for a babysitter to give you some breathing room, delegating tasks can make hosting much more manageable.

Last but not least – don’t forget to include your kids! Kids are so capable to begin learning the grace and courtesies of everyday life. Set aside intentional time before hosting to prepare them for who is coming, where they will be staying, and what it might be like to have them. Role play basic manners like how to greet someone, how to knock on a closed door, and how to receive a gift! (Yes, these should be practiced ahead of time and can be done so joyfully through play!).