Stress-free family Christmas

Last updated: 8 Dec 2009

A family Christmas

With a third of parents admitting that buying children gifts can be stressful - we've got top tips to help you have a stress-free family Christmas

This year generous Brits are planning on spending an average of £210 on children's Christmas gifts, with parents in the North-East forking out more than the rest of the country.

But according to research by BIC stationery it's the spirit of giving that seems to cause the most angst, with 28% of those surveyed admitting buying children's gifts in particular is the most stressful part of Christmas. However as 63% of UK parents confess to only finishing their purchases within a week of Santa's arrival there may well be time as well as money factors.

Top Christmas stress busting tips

Go back to basics.The latest must-have toys can often be forgotten and end up discarded after Christmas day. Often the most popular and memorable toys are the simplest, activities like skipping, playing ball and drawing and colouring are cost effective, timeless activities that children have enjoyed for centuries.
Make your own cards and decorations. Children love spending time with their parents and feeling like they are contributing to something. Enjoy having fun making your own Christmas cards and decorations for the tree, the children will love being involved and it'll be much cheaper than buying them
Celebrate your child's artistic side. If your child has drawn or coloured something they are really proud of, put it into a clip frame and place it somewhere visual. It'll be a permanent reminder of what they have achieved and a great confidence booster
Allow children to feel they are contributing to Christmas. When parents are busy rushing around preparing for Christmas, children can often feel neglected. Get them involved too by asking them to draw place cards for Christmas lunch with a picture of the person on the front – and then everyone has to guess which one is theirs
Create a family 'heart chart'. Draw a heart on a piece of paper for every member of your family. Put their name inside it. Pass the heart round and ask everyone to draw a picture or write a word to say what they love about that person. When everyone has contributed an idea, you can give it to them. That's a really special present
Get out and about at regular intervals. Get a blast of fresh air and give the opportunity for your children to use up lots of their energy – and then they'll be much keener to sit down and do something that requires attention
Create 'me' time. You can't be on the clock 24/7. If you want to be the best parent you can this Christmas, you have to look after yourself. If you create some 'me' time , you'll feel motivated, positive and energised – and that will have an impact on the whole family
Dump or Delegate. You are only human. You can't do everything. Make decisions about exactly what you want to achieve and how you want to spend your time. Draw up a list of everything that you want to do this Christmas. Cross out anything on the list that is there because you feel you need to do it rather than want to do it. Identify any items on the list that can be done by other people including the children – and delegate, delegate, delegate. The only items left on the list should be ones that you really want to do.
Put your children to bed. Tell them what you have loved about spending time playing with them. Be as specific as you can
Tell your children what you love about them. On Christmas Day – whether your children are 4 or 40 – take the time to tell them exactly what makes them so special, what a difference they're making in your life and what it is that you love most about them