A lot of parents with ADHD children dread the Christmas holidays – too much excitement, frayed tempers, more people in the house than normal and the risk of meltdowns. But there are definitely lots of things you can do to make your home more harmonious throughout the festive season. Here are my top ten tips.
1. In the run-up to Christmas, keep them busy.
They will like nothing more than helping to decorate the tree, making paper decorations and trinkets, wrapping presents and getting involved with Christmas baking.
2. Get them outside, expending their energy as much as you can.
Hand delivering Christmas cards is a great idea as is hand delivering local Christmas presents. And if it snows, snowball fights, building snowmen and sleigh riding, will keep an ADHD child occupied for hours.
3. Take them along to any events in your local area, like Christmas Light Switch-Ons, Christmas markets and carol concerts.
Keep an eye out for Christmas themed events specifically for children. Anything where they can be active, have fun and use up energy.
4. When it gets to Christmas Day, stagger the chocolate!
Remember, their dopamine-seeking brain will want to eat everything in their stocking and every edible present they open until they make themselves sick. So, keep an eye on what they are opening and regulate the chocolate and sweet intake over the day. Be careful not to deny. But delaying “until a bit later” is more palatable.
5. Make sure you have a good selection of new batteries in the house.
The last thing you want is a child itching to play with a new device or gadget that didn’t come with batteries.
6. It’s a good idea to ask family members or friends who are coming to visit after Christmas, to bring any presents with them then.
ADHD kids love nothing more than surprise gifts that arrive on Boxing Day or any time after Christmas Day. It gives them another adrenaline-boost when their mood might be flagging.
7. Always have something lined up for the period between Christmas and New Year.
Try to arrange something each day whether that’s a trip to the panto, Winter Wonderland, going shopping to spend vouchers, outside iceskating or going to the cinema. At least one activity a day will keep your child suitably stimulated.
8. Don’t force them to sit at the dinner table if you are entertaining.
Once they have finished eating, allow them to go off and satisfy their stimulation-seeking brain. It’s highly unlikely they will want to sit and chat with the grown-ups so allow them to go off and play with their new games and toys and leave the adults in peace.
9. Allow them to stay up later when they don’t have to go to school.
Christmas is probably the most exciting time of the year for an ADHD child so be a bit flexible with bedtime, knowing that they can lie-in in the morning.
10. Give yourself some ‘you time.’
Christmas can be very full-on with ADHD children so arrange a babysitter at least one night over Christmas where you can go out either with your friends or with your partner. Tell the kids it’s ‘movie night & popcorn’ with whoever is babysitting. They will love the freedom of a night choosing which film and snacks they consume, and you can get some much needed you time.
Merry Christmas!
Sarah Templeton is an ADHD counsellor, coach, CBT therapist and author of How Not to Murder Your ADHD Kid: Instead Learn How to Be Your Child’s Own ADHD Coach, available on Amazon, priced £19.99.
Until the 18th December you have the chance to win a copy of Sarah’s book ‘How not to Murder your ADHD Kid’. Head over to our Competitions Page to find out more.
