The Christmas season is generally a time of joy, togetherness, and celebration. But for families with young children, it can also be a time of chaos, disrupted routines, and extra stress. With all the excitement and build up to the big day plus occasional festive outings, it's easy for children's routines to get off track. However, maintaining some sense of structure can help keep everyone happy, healthy, and well-rested during this busy time of year.
Here are some practical tips for managing children's routines during this time, while still making the most of the Christmas magic.
Keep Core Routines Consistent
While it's tempting to ditch the daily schedule in favour of spontaneous Christmas fun, children thrive on routine. Consistency provides a sense of security, and maintaining some core elements of the daily routine—such as meal times, naps, and bedtime—can help keep kids grounded during the whirlwind of festive activities.
For example:
Meal times: Try to keep meal times at the usual hour, even if the day’s schedule is shifted. If you’re attending a party or visiting friends, try to feed your child a small, balanced meal beforehand to avoid meltdowns due to hunger.
Bedtime: While your child might want to stay up late to see Christmas lights or catch a glimpse of Santa, try to keep their bedtime within a reasonable window. You can adjust bedtime by 15-30 minutes later, but avoid big shifts that could lead to overtiredness and grumpiness.
Naps: Even on busy days, try to ensure your child has time to rest. If a nap isn’t possible due to travel or family events, try to schedule some quiet downtime to help your child recharge.

Plan for Transition Time
Christmas often means days away from home or even travelling longer distances to visit relatives, and possibly staying in different environments. Transitioning from one activity to another can be overwhelming for young children, so it's important to plan for a bit of downtime between events.
Before big outings: Give your child a few minutes to adjust and prepare for a change in routine. This could mean taking a few quiet moments to read a story or simply talking about the upcoming plans. It helps set expectations and allows your child to mentally prepare for the change.
After big events: When returning home from a busy holiday outing, try to incorporate a short calming and familiar routine, like a bath, a favourite story, and a cuddle. This gives children a sense of closure for the day and signals that it’s time to wind down.
Make Christmas Special, but Stick to Basic Expectations
One of the most wonderful parts of the build up to Christmas is the special activities that come with it: decorating the tree, creating new traditions, Christmas crafts, opening gifts, and enjoying festive outings. But it’s important to balance the excitement of Christmas with clear expectations for behaviour and daily tasks.
Set realistic expectations: Children will likely be excited, which can lead to energy overload or overstimulation. Gently remind them of the behaviours you expect (e.g., using manners at the dinner table, listening to adults, or waiting their turn to open presents).
Offer choices: Even within a routine, give your child some autonomy. For example, you could let them choose which Christmas movie to watch or which festive activity they'd like to do (i.edecorate cookies or make Christmas decorations). This small sense of control can help them feel more relaxed and cooperative, especially when there's a lot of structure to navigate.
Incorporate Relaxing Family Time
Christmas can quickly become a non-stop rush of events, but it’s important to carve out moments of quiet family time. These moments can help maintain balance and remind everyone of the true meaning of the season: love, togetherness, and reflection.
Cuddle up with a festive book: Reading a Christmas story together before bed can help your child unwind and add a peaceful touch to the end of the day. You can also create a family tradition of reading a special book every night leading up to Christmas.
Take walks or nature outings: If possible, get outside for a brisk winter walk or a visit to the woods or the park. Nature has a calming effect, and the fresh air can do wonders for helping children reset and refocus.

Don’t Forget About Self-Care
Festive stress can affect parents too, so it's important to carve out time for self-care. Children feed off the energy of the adults around them, so if you're feeling overwhelmed or frazzled, it's more likely your child will too.
Take breaks when you need them: Ask for help from a partner or extended family members when needed, and don’t be afraid to step away for a moment to recharge. Even a short break can do wonders for restoring your patience and perspective.
Practice deep breathing or mindfulness: If things get a bit stressful, take a few moments to practice deep breathing or a short meditation. This can help you reset, allowing you to respond to your child's needs with a calm and steady presence.
Try To Stay Flexible
While routines are important, the Christmas season often comes with its share of surprises, so flexibility is key. A little disruption to routine here and there isn’t the end of the world. In fact, it can offer an opportunity for creativity and fun. If bedtime gets pushed back one night for a special event, or if nap time doesn’t happen as usual, don’t stress—try to get back on track the next day, its unlikely hat things will completely derail.
Remember, it’s okay to go with the flow sometimes. Christmas is a time to enjoy making memories, and that often involves a little flexibility. As long as you keep a balance of structure as well as spontaneity, the festive season can remain a joyful time for both adults and children
Here’s to a calm, merry, and enjoyable season for the whole family!
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