Posted: Friday, December 11, 2009 --- 5:52 a.m.

In today's Family First we talk about kids and their innate ability to turn into terrors around the holidays.

If you find your children frazzled this time of year the experts at web m-d dot com have some easy advice.

First, remind yourself every day that your stress leads to theirs.

No matter how hard we try to hide it, kids take their emotional cues from us even, studies show, things as slight as a quick sigh or tight facial expression.

They actually recommend a quick massage for your kids, their back or their feet just to get them, and you, to chill out.

Second, the web m-d experts say you should give the kids a list of things to do.

Assigning a room to decorate or a number of gifts to wrap will make them feel like they're part of the plan and not left out.

Third, studies show we feed our children later than usual during the holidays, especially when family and friends are coming over to visit.

Try to feed your children, especially the young ones at their normal meal and snack times.

Finally, they suggest the kids and parents take time to get away from the crowd the day of the big family gathering, just to decompress.