Navigating the Festive Season: Parenting ADHD During Christmas

As the festive season approaches, families everywhere are gearing up for the joys and challenges it brings. For parents of children with ADHD, the excitement and disruption of routines during Christmas can be particularly intense. Drawing from my personal experiences of raising neurodivergent children and my professional experience with positive psychology, I thought I’d share some strategies to help families navigate this period with less stress, and more ease and holiday cheer.

Embracing Neurodiversity in the Festive Frenzy

The holiday season often magnifies the unique aspects of ADHD. Amidst the festive chaos, it's crucial to appreciate the heightened creativity and enthusiasm that children with ADHD bring. Getting into the mind of your child, consider how your objectives differ. From excitement to overwhelm, try to channel this energy positively, by getting them to articulate what they are thinking and what their expectations are. Repeat back what they said so they know you have heard them and share your excitements and expectations too. Where are they aligned, and where do they differ?

Strength-Based Parenting: A Holiday Edition

During Christmas, leveraging your child’s strengths can lead to super fun holiday experiences. Whether decorating the house, crafting gifts, or planning family activities, engaging their unique skills can make the season more enjoyable for everyone. Try strengths spotting with the whole family and offer encouragement and praise for a job done well (even if you feel you have to lower your standards at times!).

Structured Flexibility: Balancing Holiday Routines

The disruption of routines during Christmas can be really stressful for children with ADHD. What might seem like a good idea at the time, such as staying up late as everyone is in great form, may give you several days or even weeks of dysregulation thereafter. Where possible, maintaining a sense of structure, while allowing for some holiday flexibility, is key. Simple strategies like visual schedules for holiday events or clear expectations for each day can help.

Positive Reinforcement: Celebrating Festive Successes

The holiday season is an opportune time to practice positive reinforcement. Acknowledging excellent behaviour or successful adaptation to changes can boost your child's confidence and enjoyment of the festivities. Use active ignoring when behaviour is not so great, and look out for those times when you can praise and celebrate those acts of kindness, care, or help around the house.

Emotional Intelligence: Managing Holiday Excitement

The excitement and sensory overload of Christmas can be seriously overwhelming for children with ADHD. Teaching them to recognise and manage their emotions is crucial for the whole family’s wellbeing, enjoyment, and peaceful holiday. This involves understanding their triggers and having strategies to calm down when things get too much. Be prepared! Have a clear idea of what consequence happens when and that this is communicated clearly, so there is less chance of an over-reaction and accelerating rising emotions.

Collaborative Problem Solving: Involving Everyone in Holiday Plans

Involving your child in holiday planning can be an empowering experience. It allows children to feel heard and valued, and they are more likely to engage positively with the family’s holiday activities. As parents we often forget this, and quite frankly, I fully recognise it can just delay things sometimes and might scupper our plans, but it is super worth it, so everyone's expectations are met, and there is less likelihood of drama during the holidays.

Advocacy and Self-Care: A Parent’s Holiday Wish

Christmas is a wonderful time to advocate for your child’s needs, while also taking care of your own wellbeing. Balancing these roles is especially important during this busy season. Remember, taking time for self-care is not just a gift to yourself but to your whole family. Write a short plan of what you might do just for yourself this holiday – share it with your family and make it non-negotiable!

Have a wonderful Christmas, and enjoy sharing and spending time with those you love! How will you make this Christmas a time of joy, understanding, and togetherness for everyone?

#ADHD #PositivePsychology #Parenting #Christmas #HolidaySeason #FamilyWellbeing #Neurodiversity SelfCare