Nanny Diaries: Why do children seem to try our patience more at Christmas?

Also known as A paddy/tantrum/meltdown, basically behaving in an angry, distressed and often LOUD way!

I don’t know what the trigger was, it could’ve been anything let’s be honest.

But I’d be willing to put money on that not being the only one the staff saw that day!

It’s the time of year. We’re all frazzled (another of Mums sayings!), we’re stressed, anxious, worn out. Our children misbehaving doesn’t help!

The challenge is It’s all different at the moment. Everywhere looks different, feels different. Every body is acting different. Someone only 2 or 3 won’t really grasp why they’re wearing an elf costume and a funny hat?! Why someone has given them something they “can’t have yet”? Why there’s lots of sweets and chocolates but you can’t eat them all, and there’s so much noise and colour and people! That’s not to mention the constant threat of “being a good boy/girl or Father Christmas won’t come” (and who IS that big red man anyway?) it’s very unsettling for all children, especially those with additional needs. Throw in being at home when you should be at nursery or school and you’ve got ALL the feelings and no idea how to handle them. All it takes sometimes is mummy to say “no” to something and the child losses all their behaviour management skills. Then they try to communicate their frustration with you in the only way they know, crying, shouting or fussing. So mummy gets cross and we’re at the point of no return!

So how DO you lessen the chances of reaching that point?

· Try to keep some routine in. Children like to know what comes next. Even if it’s new routines, something as simple as opening an advent calendar at the same time each morning can put a boundary in place.

· Pick your battles, does it REALLY matter they won’t wear the elf hat? Will the world end if they open a present early?

· Explain what’s happening. Give your child the chance to understand what’s happening around them.

· Prepare! if you’re travelling take entertainment, the world won’t end if you use screens a bit more over this period either.

· Try to stay at home as much as you can. Children don’t need to be taken to EVERY event every day. Allow them time to rest in familiar surroundings.

Then when you finally arrive at that big day, sit back and enjoy the magic. You've ALL earned it!