Christmas is fun, but it can also be a bit of a minefield. Family tensions can boil over with potential issues arising over a clash of personalities, gift disappointments and too much alcohol. Fear not, here are some ideas from Hello Baby for keeping up the festive cheer.
Look after yourself and get some rest.
Christmas is hard work and we all know that tempers fray when we are tired. To ensure a good night sleep don’t drink to much caffine or alcohol before going to bed as this will result in a inferior night’s sleep.
Drink in moderation
Drinking makes people relaxed and talkative, but it can make people do things that they will regret. Pace yourself and drink in moderation.
Keep Children Safe
Christmas is a time when there are lots of people around it is easy to forget about child safety.
- Be careful of small things on the floor which may get swallowed
- Remember that other people’s houses may not be child proofed
- Keep children out of the kitchen when there is lots of cooking going on
- Always buy toys which are age appropriate
(remember to check out our child safety products)
Don’t overspend
Many people get into financial difficulties by spending too much on Christmas presents. Set a budget and stick to it.
Plan Ahead
At Christmas it is easy to just slump in front of the TV all day and vegetate. To quote the great Homer Simpson:
“I’m not my fault I watch so much TV. The networks just put on one good show after another”
This leads to pent up energy and boredom. By planning some activities in advance it is possible to avoid lethargy and have more fun. Here are some ideas:
- Don’t leave everything to the last minute. Buy presents, food and other supplies well in advance.
- Get everyone involved in preparations. This keeps everyone busy and shares the work.
- Get outdoors and take a walk. Getting out of the stuffy house clears the head and leaves everyone feeling calm and peaceful.
- Organise a treasure hunt. Write clues on pieces of paper with a start point, and hide them in various places. For example, “Look under the garden bench”, “Go to the rose bush.” The prize at the end can be a bag of chocolate money. If you’re children can’t read yet, read the clues to them.
- Read special Christmas stories and sing carols!
- Let your children open one present each hour until lunch time. This keeps the suspense going all morning, as well as ensuring that they play properly with each gift instead of discarding it before they’ve even looked at it and ripping open the next one.
- Play some board games. Slightly old fashioned they may be but they are interactive, fun and something with which everyone can get involved. Games like charades are also lots of fun.
- If you are going to watch TV, be selective about what you watch.
Avoid Gift Disappointment
A frequent source of disappointment is caused by kids not getting the presents they want. The trick here is to manage expectations and let them know that you can’t afford what they are asking for and that you can’t buy everything.
Do a good deed!
Doing nice things for other people has been show to make people happier. Think about inviting round a neighbour, friend of relative you think might be on their own this Christmas.
Buying presents online
Remember that the last postage day is 22nd December for Royal Mail 1st Class. We recommend purchasing items much earlier than this as the post around Christmas is always chaos. A few days of bad weather can cause weeks of delays.
