Ungrateful Child? 7 Holiday Gaffes and How to Deal

Making the holiday rounds with children can sometimes feel like herding cranky sheep. But, since you can't do holidays sans kids, you need to be on the lookout for rude kid moments to squash. No one likes an ungrateful child at Christmas or the gimmes at Hanukkah, but cheeky moments can happen despite your best efforts. Watch out for merriment-nixing behavior that could shock relatives and totally kill your holiday spirit.

"Wow, Aunt Jessica got really big!" Ah, kids. You have to admit they have a way with words. Unfortunately, those blunt words can hurt feelings, especially when visiting distant relatives who aren't always around. While you can't fault your little one for telling the truth, you can quickly redirect his attention so he doesn't make anymore astute observations. Later, you can talk about how that might hurt Aunt Jessica's feelings and give him ideas for a compliment to make instead.

You're excited for your little one to hang with her cousins ... that is, until you overhear her bossing them around or being a bully. Hasn't she heard of holiday spirit? As a parent, it's your job to step in and stop the rudeness. "You can interrupt and redirect if you hear words, tone, or even see facial expressions that express sarcasm," suggests Theresa Spinner, senior public relations for the National Association of Social Workers. "Talk to your children about your values and how you believe friends should treat one another." And, if the behavior continues, remove your tyrant tot until she agrees to play nice.

You know the drill: Grandpa asks your child to help set the table and she shoots back a reply so scathing that it could light a yule log. Where did that come from? Resist the urge to giggle or ask, "Where did you learn to talk like that?" and face the issue head-on. Parenting author Tara Kennedy-Kline suggests a straightforward approach. In cases of a child being downright rude, stop whatever you're doing and tell your child, "That was not acceptable behavior and I'm not willing to let you treat people that way. We are going to try that again so you can show me you know how to be a good friend."

You know your kid is as picky as it gets, but whining about Aunt May's creamed spinach is not acceptable—at least not at the dinner table. Before you make your holiday rounds, institute the rule of the "courtesy bite" with your little food snob. When she's offered food, she needs to take one courtesy bite and she can pass politely afterward. And, if she makes faces at the table, she can have a time-out until she's ready to try again.

You've probably worked hard to make sure that fingers stay out of the nose, food remains in the mouth, and bodily functions stay politely in the bathroom when you're with your family over the holidays. But your little one can forget her careful training and end up digging through her nose like she's fishing through a Christmas stocking (at the table, naturally). Take a deep breath and remember that there's a difference between rude behavior and embarrassing behavior. Your child has probably forgotten in all the hubbub and just needs a quick reminder, without any fuss.

Remember, for as taxing as holidays are on you, they're pretty stressful for kids too. Sure, there are presents to be had and desserts to eat, but there's also the pinching fingers of Grandma or the loud voice of Uncle Ralph. In most cases, a reminder or a deep breath can set your child right again. And, if not, at least you have a whole year before you have to see some of the offended again!

Need a way to smooth over the holiday party hiccups? Help your child make a paper craft as a thank you to hosts and family.