3. Strike a balance
During the Christmas period, children are naturally prone to feeling more overwhelmed and emotional than normal, with changes to their routine and excitement around the festivities. For parents this can be hard to manage and amid the chaos, sometimes it’s hard to keep calm.
Roma emphasises how taking care of your own emotional state is key. “Most tangles with children happen when we are not in good shape ourselves. Book in self-care for you before anything else,” Norriss says. A relaxing bath complemented by soothing candles or scent at the end of each day in the run-up to Christmas can help you relax and start the next day on the right foot.
A good way to get your children onside when you need their cooperation is by using a technique Roma calls “charging children’s connection battery”. For younger children, setting out a playmat can help make children feel they have a boundary, their own area, in which to play. “Offer short doses of your one-on-one, undivided, delighted, agenda-free attention. Let your child be in charge for 15 minutes. Play whatever they want to play with enthusiasm. Once you’ve done this you can expect them to settle down with a festive craft, or even help with chores while you do other things,” Norriss explains.