Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The festive season can often bring a sensory overload for children, even before Christmas Day itself arrives. This heightened stimulation stems from nativity plays, long queues at Santa’s grotto, and the bustling crowds gathering to see Christmas lights. Such experiences can lead to mini-meltdowns, which add pressure to parents already juggling school events, gift shopping, and coordinating holiday meals.
George Lewis, a comedian and father of three, shares his perspective on these challenges during an interview on CBeebies Parenting Download. While his children cherish the spirit of Christmas, the changes to their usual routines during December create “a real inner conflict” for them. Parenting expert San Mehra highlights this contrast between high excitement and unpredictability as the key cause of what she calls “Christmas overwhelm.” Together, George and San offer practical strategies to help families manage the season with less stress and more calm.
One crucial recommendation is maintaining some consistency amid the holiday chaos. San emphasizes the importance of retaining anchor points like regular wake-up times, meal schedules, and bedtimes to provide children with a sense of stability. According to her, “Chaos all day is hard for kids to cope with,” and if too many routine elements shift at once, feelings of overwhelm intensify quickly. Visual aids such as calendars that mark upcoming events can help children anticipate what’s next, allowing them to voice any worries they may have. San also stresses the necessity of planning downtime deliberately, ensuring that activities are balanced with moments for rest.
George also discusses how he shifted his family’s approach to Christmas after realizing that his earlier “idealized, movie-style Christmas” did not suit his children, two of whom have autism and found busy gatherings overwhelming. Rather than adhering strictly to tradition, he now focuses on comfort and predictability, preferring smaller, quieter occasions at home with events spaced out. One significant change is their decision to serve Christmas dinner either on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day instead of Christmas Day itself. This adjustment allows the actual day to be free from stressful preparations, so the family can simply enjoy playing with the children and even ordering a takeaway meal in the evening
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.