Tis the season to be busy…..fa la lalala, la lala la….

December is the time of year we seem to get swept up with trying to complete our to do lists, finishing up work, going to school graduations, parties, buying presents, organising food for Christmas dinner and it goes on.

This year has been a strange one to say the least and our children (as well as us parents) have been pushed to the limit everyone is exhausted.

Our children often get caught up in the excitement of the season and often end up overstimulated and even out of control. Your child may even be displaying symptoms of stress or anxiety due to the unpredictable schedule at Christmas time which tops off the already unpredictable year we managed to have survived.

Some symptoms your child may be stressed or anxious at Christmas can be; inability to fall or stay asleep, cries easily, lashing out in anger, not able to focus, appetite changes, lots of worries and “what if” questions.

Here are 6 ways to reduce your child’s Christmas anxiety and make it peaceful and joyful for all

1. Lower your expectations. We often have grand ideas about what Christmas should look like causing ourselves a great deal of stress trying to create the perfect Christmas. Ask yourself what is most important? You are making deposits in your child’s memory bank every Christmas, what do you want them to remember?
2. Prepare your child for the season. Have a calendar or schedule in a place your child can access, that way there are no surprises. Remind them the day before and on the morning so they have time to process the information.
3. Don’t over schedule activities, yes it’s a busy time of year however 3 events in one day is over the top even for an adult. It’s also important we don’t expect a child to have the same tolerance level and capacity to handle stress as an adult. A Child’s brain is underdeveloped, the prefrontal cortex which is responsible for logic, reasoning and emotional intelligence doesn’t start to grow until they are in Kindergarten and continues to develop until the mid twentys!
4. Have time out, create a space your child can go to escape from other sugar crazed kids and jolly adults. Make a plan where they can take some time to defuse on their own and listen to some music or do something that grounds and soothes them.
5. Stick to a good bedtime routine. Good restorative Sleep is necessary for all physical body systems and reduces anxiety. Lack of sleep quality causes the amygdala (triggers fight or flight response in the brain) to become extra sensitive.
6. Make Gratitude a part of daily life, if this year has taught us anything it is that we really value the little things. Studies have concluded that gratitude affects our brain the same way Prozac does. It makes us feel good as we release dopamine (reward hormone) each time we express our gratitude it makes us feel so good that the brain wants to repeat it. It literally rewires the brain for happiness.

Wishing everyone a beautiful, peaceful Christmas spent with those near and dear to you xxx