Tone It Down with Tunes

Need help keeping your kids from getting too rambunctious this holiday season? Turn on some soothing tunes from time to time.

Uplifting music has been shown to help keep stress levels under control. In one study, students who performed a stressful task experienced mood improvements while listening to music after completing the task. Remember to keep the volume low to help boost kids' feelings of well-being.

Choose low-volume, uplifting music to keep stressful feelings at bay. Studies suggest that classical selections from Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms help lower blood pressure and may be best for soothing kids' nerves. It appears neither silence nor other types of music produce a similar effect on blood pressure.

On the other hand, if you need to inject some excitement into your holiday gatherings, slightly louder music can be helpful. Higher-volume, upbeat music may increase blood flow and boost energy levels.