“At this time of year it can feel like everything needs to be big and glossy and glittery but there’s an opportunity here to reset the way your family does Christmas,” says Laverne Antrobus, a consultant child and educational psychologist.
She advises parents and guardians to check-in with children about their Christmas worries – because they are likely to have overheard conversations between grown-ups if money is tight.
Preparation is everything, according to Ms Antrobus. If a child knows in advance that things will be different, they will be mentally ready for that on Christmas morning.
“I would say to children – ‘we are going to do things differently this year’ and that might also give you the room to say Santa is doing things differently too.
“The more you can present a very thought-through approach, the more comforting that is for a child.”
