ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ

It is the season of comfort, kindness and joy . . . when our thoughts turn to stress, family, lists and shopping, and the word we hear most often — "coping." Following are some suggestions on how to cope with the season.

	Nagging Children and "Must-Have" Gifts Children will be working overtime this season to seal the deal on this year’s “must-have” holiday gifts. ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Marketing Professor Rick Briesch, a father of four, offers 10 tips for parents.
	The Wrapping Matters A now-classic study by ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ marketing professor Daniel Howard holds that giving a gift that has been lovingly wrapped does influence the recipient to value it more.
	Coping with Holiday Stress Hal Barkley, Director of Counseling in ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ's Simmons School, says not to panic during the holidays — you can survive this. He offers 10 tips for staying calm(er).
	Blended Families With divorce and remarriage “the new normal” in many American families, holidays can be a time for both happiness and struggle for children. Sarah Feuerbacher, director of ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ’s ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ for Family Counseling, offers ten tips she’s learned from counseling blended families.
	Something to Sing About ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Music Professor Martin Sweidel offers his top picks for the holiday season, from Ella Fitzgerald to Paul Simon.
	Job Hunting During the Holidays The holiday season is no reason for job seekers to lose their momentum. Here are five tips from ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ’s Hegi Family Career Development ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ to make the most of 2011 and ring in the new year with a new job.
	Oldest Christmas Card One of the world's oldest mass-produced Christmas cards – dating back more than 160 years – can be found among the extensive special collections at ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Methodist University in Dallas.

For interviews about these stories, contact ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ News and Communications at 214-768-7650 or news@smu.edu