Helping Little Ones Manage Christmas Emotions: Excitement, Disappointment, and Everything In Between
The Christmas season is magical for children, full of excitement, wonder, and anticipation. However, the build-up to the big day can also bring intense emotions, from giddy excitement to moments of disappointment or frustration. As parents, we can support our little ones through these emotional highs and lows, helping them navigate the season with resilience and joy. Here are some tips on how to manage the rollercoaster of Christmas emotions.
1. Acknowledge Their Excitement
The thrill of Christmas lights, presents, and festive activities can lead to children becoming over-excited. Instead of trying to tone down their excitement, acknowledge it. Say things like, “I can see you’re really excited about Christmas, and that’s wonderful!” By validating their feelings, you help them feel understood.
You can also channel their energy into festive activities such as decorating the tree, making Christmas cards, or helping to bake treats.
2. Help Them Understand Waiting
The concept of waiting can be tough for little ones, especially with so much build-up to Christmas Day. Help them manage this by marking the days in a visual way, such as using an advent calendar or a Christmas countdown chart. This gives children a sense of time passing and helps them learn patience.
Involve them in the preparations too—whether it’s wrapping gifts or helping to set the table on Christmas Eve. Being part of the process can make the wait feel more manageable.
3. Prepare for Possible Disappointment
Children can sometimes feel disappointed if the day doesn’t go as they imagined, or if they don’t receive the gift they had their heart set on. To manage expectations, have open conversations before Christmas. Remind them that the day is about family, giving, and togetherness, not just presents.
You can also model gratitude by showing appreciation for thoughtful gestures and gifts, big or small. Encourage them to express their thanks, even if the gift wasn’t exactly what they were expecting.
4. Keep a Routine
The excitement of the holiday season can easily disrupt routines, which can lead to tiredness and emotional outbursts. Wherever possible, try to keep regular mealtimes and bedtimes in place. This structure helps children feel secure and reduces the likelihood of them becoming overwhelmed.
If there are lots of festive events, balance them out with quieter, restful days to avoid sensory overload.
5. Talk About Big Emotions
Christmas is a great time to help your child understand and express their emotions. When they seem overwhelmed, sit with them and talk about their feelings. Ask questions like, “How are you feeling right now?” or “What made you feel that way?”
Encourage them to name their emotions, whether they’re feeling excited, frustrated, or sad. You could even use a festive analogy, comparing emotions to decorations—sometimes they’re bright and sparkly, and other times, they’re a bit tangled up!
6. Create Time for Calm
Amidst the Christmas buzz, ensure your child has moments of calm. Create a quiet corner with blankets, books, and a favourite toy where they can take a break when the excitement feels too much.
Simple mindfulness activities like deep breathing or listening to calming music can help children self-regulate during moments of overwhelm.
7. Focus on Giving
One way to manage Christmas emotions is to shift the focus from receiving to giving. Get your child involved in making or choosing gifts for others, whether it’s homemade decorations for family members or donating toys to charity.
This helps them understand the joy of giving and develops empathy, which can balance out the inevitable focus on presents.
8. Embrace Flexibility
Christmas doesn’t always go according to plan—illnesses, cancelled events, or bad weather can lead to disappointment. Teach your child the importance of flexibility by staying positive and adapting when things go wrong.
Model how to handle disappointment gracefully, showing them that it’s okay to feel sad but also that unexpected changes can lead to new, fun experiences.
9. Celebrate the Little Moments
Encourage your child to find joy in the small moments of Christmas. Whether it’s decorating biscuits, listening to carols, or sharing a meal together, these little moments of connection can help children feel more grounded during the chaos of the season.
This also helps reduce pressure on the "big day" itself by spreading the magic throughout the holiday period.
By providing emotional support, structure, and space for reflection, we can help our children enjoy the excitement of Christmas while learning to manage the inevitable ups and downs. These lessons will not only help them through the holiday season but also equip them with emotional skills they can use all year round.
Anisa is an accredited and certified Positive Parenting Coach, mother, and ex-deputy head teacher, with 25+ years of experience working and supporting children and families. Anisa specialises in empowering and positively transforming lives of parents and children, who are facing stress, anxiety, or just day-to-day challenges of parenting – working with them directly, in group environments, and through corporate channels. Anisa is hugely passionate about using her coaching skills, and educational background, to find ways for parents and children to move through the challenges they face in life, together.
Anisa is here to help bring about multi-generational change as she believes we often get stuck in the patterns from the past, following the path we ourselves tread, which isn’t always the right one to support our children and she is here to help families work things out, so they get to know that parenting does not have to be hard.
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