HOW TO HANDLE KIDS’ XMAS STROPS

From squabbles over gifts to sugar highs that lead to tantrums, Emma says we can avoid most festive meltdowns

Walk into pretty much any home on 25 December and you’ll witness a fall-out involving kids. They get themselves hugely worked up in the lead-up and, on the day itself, they wake up super early. Add to this the half a ton of sweets, chocolate and candy canes, plus your frayed temper, and it’s clear why they kick off.

This year, adopt a zen attitude. As the day approaches, give your children earlier nights so that, even if they don’t get much sleep on Christmas Eve, they will have energy reserves. Try limiting treats as much as you can, and get your family out for a walk at some point

– it will encourage positive communication and expend excess energy. Kids grow bored easily, and often you are so distracted by your tasks that they are left to their own devices. Give them responsibilities, like taking guests’ coats, or collecting discarded giftwrap.

If you have the whole family round to eat, assign everyone a seat. This way, they can’t argue over who gets to sit where. Children get jealous of their siblings’ gifts, which is totally normal – it’s less to do with you getting it wrong and more about them wanting everything. If appropriate, tell them that if they still really want one by next week, they need to behave well so that, on their next birthday, or after a period of good behaviour, they will be given one. If tempers really fray, suggest they have an hour in bed – they will wake up less grumpy and ready to enjoy the rest of the day.