The Ultimate Christmas 2022 Survival Guide for Parents with Children Under 13
Everything parents need to read in the run-up to Christmas
Santa Looks a Lot Like Dad…
It’s every parent’s worst nightmare… but it’s also inevitable. The day will come when your kids realise Santa Claus looks surprisingly like dad and flying reindeer and a guy coming down the chimney might be a little far-fetched. But how do you deal with it when your children stop believing in the man in red? Here are our top tips.
1. Don’t be surprised. It happens to everyone and there isn’t a right or wrong age for your kids to start questioning the reality of Christmas.
2. Don’t be afraid to tell the truth. All kids need to find out at some point and they won’t be scarred for life when they do. In fact, if they’re asking questions it’s likely because they want to know, or perhaps already do.
3. But, let them work it out for themselves. Don’t just jump in and confess all at once, instead ask questions back to give them the chance to come to the realisation on their own.
4. Use it as a lesson. This is a perfect opportunity to teach them that the festive season is about giving and at some point it will be their turn to be Santa to someone else.
5. Most important, tell them not to tell their siblings! Whilst your eldest might be ready to know the truth about Saint Nick, their younger siblings may not and the only thing worse than finding out about Santa, is having it spoiled for you too early.
THE PERFECT PYJAMAS
A Christmas tradition for many families, get your children a brand new pair of pyjamas to wake up in on the big day.
Organic cotton striped top and leggings, £18 each Polarn O. Pyret, Eldon Square, Newcastle
Crochet penguin babygrow, £24 Albetta at Robinson’s, Alnwick
Long PJs set, £45 Joules at Barkers, Northallerton
Matching family Christmas PJ set, £25 for kids sizes White Stuff, Hexham
Check print pyjama set, £25 Minijammies at John Lewis & Partners, Newcastle
Festive Foods for Picky Eaters
Hosting Christmas dinner can be stressful at the best of times, but throw fussy children into the mix and this can mean chaos. Don’t panic, because with a little bit of forward-thinking you can prepare festive foods that will impress your guests while still catering for all.
In terms of party food, sharing boards are always a good idea. Not only do they look impressive, they also mean you can lay out a variety of options at once. This means you can combine the more adventurous options with the basics, plus it’s a more relaxing option for the picky eaters who can easily avoid the food they aren’t fond of.
When it comes to the main course, keep it simple. A succulent piece of white turkey meat alongside some classic roast potatoes and fresh veg should appeal to even the most difficult of diets. Keeping condiments on the side is also a great way to leave it up to your kids on how they want to dress their dish.
DIY dessert – by serving deconstructed desserts you give the control to your kids to pick and choose the elements they like. With everyone putting together their own dish, while your children may only want one of the parts of the dessert, those guests who actually do want a bit of everything still have the chance, and don’t need to miss out.
