[PhoenixAzul]

Well, reducing sugar intake (hard around holidays, I'm sure) will more than likely reduce the post-sugar rush crabbies, as will reducing caffeine intake.

As far as what to do to reduce stress/anxiety especially around this time of the year...because i'm not a mom I can only take a stab at it. But make sure there's quiet time. I'm talking no shopping/going out, no loud music playing on the stereo, TV down pretty low or off in general. Make time for quiet activities (board games in which the WHOLE family participates, story time, craft time, something that involves as little hectic outside input as possible yet still keeps them moving/active). I can only speculate on this, but I think that sometimes kids start to feel "left out" during the holidays because parents and older siblings get very busy (shopping, letters, presents, cleaning, cooking, parties) and the only way to get any type of attention is to act out (I know i was guilty when I was little).