The Christmas Holidays at the End of a Long Term

Tell your child what the main days of the holiday hold, keep some days free, and agree the rules with the other adults before the visits.

A two-minute read, three things to try.

Where to start

Tell your child what the main days will hold, and leave some days with nothing booked.
Agree bedtimes and screens with the other adults before the visits start.
For a child who needs routine, plan each day with them, and keep one room undecorated.
If a change in your child’s mood or behaviour lasts for several weeks, gets worse, or begins to affect their sleep or eating, talk to your GP, and to the school when term starts.

The rest of the tip, and why it works, is in the library.

Sources

Action for Children, Supporting a child who finds Christmas overwhelming (updated 19 December 2024); YoungMinds, How to help your child if Christmas makes them anxious (2019); NHS Every Mind Matters, Looking after a child or young person’s mental health (updated 29 September 2026); National Autistic Society, Christmas tips for autistic people and families (no date shown); Childnet, A parents and carers guide to Black Friday and giving tech gifts this Christmas (29 November 2024); Child Bereavement UK, Coping with grief at Christmas (11 August 2026); Child Bereavement UK, Managing special occasions (updated 4 June 2026)

It goes with

When a Child Is Grieving. For parents whose child has lost someone, or something, that was there last week.
Growing Up in Two Homes. For parents whose separation is a year or more behind them, and whose child now lives between two homes.

The first chapter you open here is free to read in full.

Free on this subject

Family stress. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.
Parenting strategy. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.

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Published by Kensington Square Therapy. Company No. 16707111. Written by therapists registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). This page is not therapy, and not a substitute for professional support. The full library is at theparentbook.com.