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Top tips to make the best of the Christmas break by our parents
- December 16, 2024
- Posted by: Louise Scrivener
- Category: blog
Planning ahead / routine: So much changes during the Christmas season it’s helpful to plan ahead, prepare and set clear expectations for everyone.
- “We try to pace it to avoid overwhelming him”
- “We plan ahead and give him a visual planner”
- “Social stories for new experiences, with lots of photos of what to expect”
- “Advent calendars are a fab way of getting them prepared”
- “Ensure that in the absence of a school routine, you still have a structure to the day… especially a bed time routine”
Decorating the house: Everything outside in the world changes so much during the Christmas season, can you keep the changes within their safe space at home minimal, gradual or inclusive.
- “Avoid glass baubles at all costs!!”
- “Don’t put the tree in the main space in the house – think about where it goes”
Experiences: Everyone loves a good pantomime (Oh no they don’t!!) Christmas experiences can be overwhelming so it’s really important to think about some practical strategies.
- “If you book an experience let the venue know, ahead that you have a ND child, ask for a quieter space, and to avoid queuing”
- “Don’t overdo it with activities!”
- “(We) make sure we have some time to do NT celebrations and traditions with his sibling, while he chills at home with his grandparents”
- “They don’t all want to see Father Christmas but they still want the present!”
The day itself: Christmas is one day. The expectation that it will be a happy event puts a pressure on all of us. Let go of traditional views of Christmas and embrace what works for you and your family.
- “Choose your battles. Is it really worth reminding them how to use their knife and fork?”
- “They may not want to be videoed opening their presents. They may not want to have their photo taken.”
- “Expect a fallout if you give a present that needs batteries (that you’ve forgotten). Or buy the wrong game. It will ruin their Christmas. It will ruin any child’s day”
- “Try to keep the day as calm as possible. They may not want to wear matching pjs. To conform. But If they want to wear their pjs all day long instead of the itchy christmas jumper…that’s OK!”
- Oh and if they want chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner so what! You will just have to deal with a hyper kid but aren’t they all hyper on Xmas day!
Remember: Kindness matters, be kind to yourself and each other. Families may need educating, plans made, and rules bent slightly. Take some time for yourself, perhaps just 5 minutes with a mindful cup of tea is all it will take to reset.
Final thoughts:
“It’s their Christmas as well. It’s not all about you and what you want. It’s about what makes them happy. If they only pop downstairs to greet the grannies….They have shown up for Christmas!”
“It is enough that they turned up. That they showed up”.
Merry Christmas.