I’m a parenting pro – tips for enjoying Christmas with hyper children, plus my Boredom Buster technique you must try
WITH Christmas only days away, it’s time to get everything prepared for the big day.
There’s a lot to think about when it comes to the festive season and particularly for those with children, Christmas can often be pretty hectic.
If you have young children or a hyperactive child, this can cause many extra challenges during the festive season.
, ADHD Counsellor and Coach has shared her practical advice on how to make the season easier to manage.
Sarah also told Fabulous about her ‘Boredom Buster’ technique that parents must do to ensure children don’t go wild this December.
So if you want your Christmas to go smoothly, here are Sarah’s top tips for surviving Christmas with ADHD and hyperactive kids.
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KEEP THEM BUSY
In order to ensure that your kids don’t go wild this Christmas, you must give Sarah’s ‘Boredom Buster’ technique a try.
She explained: “That’s before, during and after the big day.
“Before it’s a great idea to get your hyperactive kids involved in the preparations for Christmas.
“They will love making Christmas decorations, putting up the tree, helping you make mince pies and other Christmas goodies and to be involved in wrapping up the presents and putting them under the tree.
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“A hyperactive child needs to be kept busy. On Christmas day, make sure you have plans to keep them occupied whether that’s by playing new games or delivering presents to friends and neighbours.
“A bored hyperactive child is going to give you a lot more trouble than a busy one.”
GET THEM OUTSIDE
Not only this, but Sarah stressed the importance of getting your children outside, to ensure that they are kept entertained.
Sarah continued: “Take them to as many Christmas child-friendly events as you possibly can.
“From the Christmas lights switch-on, carol concerts, outside skating rinks, Christmas markets, anywhere they can be on their feet, moving and entertained.
“Wrap them up well and watch them entertain themselves making snowmen, having snowball fights and sledging. An ADHD child can have fun for hours in the snow.”
STAGGER THE PRESENTS
Another of Sarah’s tips involves staggering the Christamas gifts.
She explained: “They might have a stocking in the morning and tons of presents under the tree. It’s a very good idea to suddenly ‘find’ half a dozen presents ‘that were dropped in before but you’ve only just remembered’ sometime later on in the afternoon.
“It will give the ADHD or hyperactive child an adrenaline boost to have extra presents later on in the day.
“It’s also a very good idea to ask family or friends who are visiting on or after Boxing Day to bring any presents with them.
“This will add excitement to what could otherwise have been quite a dull day for an adrenaline-seeking child.”
HAVE BATTERIES TO HAND
It’s something that you may forget, but according to this ADHD expert, it’s important that you have batteries close to hand on Christmas Day.
She advised: “Nothing kills the excitement of a new game or gadget if it doesn’t come with the right batteries.
“So stock up on a variety of sizes and have them ready to defuse any meltdown because something didn’t come with the right or any batteries.”
ONE A DAY
According to Sarah, it’s important that you don’t stop the fun after the big day.
She added: “In between Christmas and New Year have at least one activity planned a day.
“It doesn’t have to be costly. It can be a trip to the cinema to see a new Christmas film, a walk in the snow, an afternoon at the local panto, bowling, a play date at one of their friends or anything where the child is out of the house and doing something.
“Having a day where absolutely nothing is planned is not a good idea.”
GET AWAY
Although you’ll want to spend as much time as possible with your little ones over the festive break, it’s important that you incorporate some time for yourself too.
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Sarah said: “Factor in some ‘YOU’ time. Make sure you have at least one evening when their favourite auntie or uncle comes to babysit and you and your partner, or you and the girls/lads go out for a grown-up evening.
“This is important for you and the kids. They will love an evening where they get to choose the DVD and sit and consume vast amounts of popcorn while you are out enjoying yourself.”