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Get set for Christmas with our festive parenting quiz

Christmas can be magical: Taking time off work, celebrating with friends and family, and enjoying wintry walks and cosy films.

But with all the fun comes a bit of festive frenzy.

Our Christmas parenting quiz is full of the tips and advice you need to make the season everything you want it to be. It's your guide to tackling everything from toddler tantrums and family squabbles to managing screen time.

Let's get started!

1. It’s Christmas Day and your toddler has started screaming and shouting, throwing food off their plate. Yesterday, they screamed for ages after their cousin wouldn’t share a toy. You feel frustrated and worried. Is having so many temper tantrums normal?

At Christmas, there’s much more going on than usual, from different food and activities to more people in the house. That’s a lot for a toddler to deal with.
 
So you’re right to say that having a temper tantrum is a normal part of toddler life.
 
When they’re having a tantrum, your toddler might be trying to tell you:
  • they’re overwhelmed
  • that they can’t manage something
  • that they don’t understand what’s happening.
It’s normal for you to feel frustrated if your toddler is behaving like this. But reacting angrily can make things worse. So try to:
  • stop
  • breathe
  • react calmly.
Then go through the steps on our toddler tantrums page.
 
Parenting can be hard if you're stressed, tired or anxious. Our parental mental health page includes useful tips.
 

When your toddler is having a temper tantrum, or several, it can be hard.
 
You might start to worry that their behaviour isn’t ‘normal’. But be reassured that having a temper tantrum is a completely normal part of toddler life.
 
At Christmas, there’s much more going on than usual, from different food and activities to more people in the house. That’s a lot for a toddler to deal with.
 
When they’re having a tantrum, your toddler might be trying to tell you:
  • they're overwhelmed
  • they can’t manage something
  • they don’t understand what’s happening.
It’s normal for you to feel frustrated if your toddler is behaving like this. But reacting angrily can make things worse. So try to:
  • stop
  • breathe
  • react calmly.
Then go through the steps on our toddler tantrums page.
 
Parenting can be hard if you're stressed, tired or anxious. Our parental mental health page includes useful tips.

When your toddler is having a temper tantrum, or several, it can be hard to know what to do or what’s causing it. You might start to worry that their behaviour isn’t ‘normal’.

While it can be worrying, be reassured that having a tantrum is a completely normal part of toddler life.

At Christmas, there’s much more going on than usual, from different food and activities to more people in the house. That’s a lot for a toddler to deal with.

When they’re having a tantrum, your toddler might be trying to tell you:

  • they're overwhelmed
  • they can’t manage something
  • they don’t understand what’s happening.

It’s normal for you to feel frustrated if your toddler is behaving like this. But reacting angrily can make things worse. So try to:

  • stop
  • breathe
  • react calmly.

Then go through the steps on our toddler tantrums page.

Parenting can be hard if you're stressed, tired or anxious. Our parental mental health page includes useful tips.

2. You're working from home during the holidays, but your child is out of school and full of energy. You’ve planned activities, but they keep interrupting your work. Is it normal to struggle with balancing work and childcare at home?

That’s right.
 
Balancing work and childcare can be difficult, especially during the holidays when children can be excited and have more energy.
 
Even with the best planning, unexpected things can happen. It’s normal to feel pulled in different directions and to find it hard to juggle everything, but there are ways to manage. 
 
You could try:
  • setting clear boundaries to help you feel productive
  • creating a simple schedule so your child knows what to expect
  • having a few distractions ready for your child, like toys or arts and crafts.
Remember, it’s OK to feel overwhelmed sometimes, you’re not alone in feeling this way. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different approaches and speak to friends and family about what works for them.
 
Check out our ultimate guide to working from home for more ideas.

It’s OK to find it difficult when you’re trying to work from home during the holidays, especially if your child is full of energy and excitement.
 
At busy times like these it’s completely normal to struggle. Even with careful planning, unexpected things can happen. You could try:
  • setting clear boundaries to help you feel productive
  • creating a simple schedule so your child knows what to expect
  • having a few distractions ready for your child, like toys or arts and crafts. 
Remember, it’s OK to feel overwhelmed sometimes, you’re not alone in feeling this way. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different approaches and speak to friends and family about what works for them.
 
You can also check out our ultimate guide to working from home for more ideas.

It’s natural to question whether you’re handling everything well when trying to juggle work and childcare at home, especially during the holidays when children can be excited and full of energy.
 
Even with careful planning, unexpected things can happen, but there are ways to help you manage.
 
You could try:
  • setting clear boundaries to help you feel productive
  • creating a simple schedule so your child knows what to expect
  • having a few distractions ready for your child, like toys or arts and crafts.
Remember, it’s OK to feel overwhelmed or like you’re struggling sometimes, it’s all part of managing family life and you’re not alone in feeling this way.
 
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different approaches and speak to friends and family about what works for them.
 
You can also check out our ultimate guide to working from home for more ideas.

3. It’s the festive season, and tensions are running high. Your family is spending more time together, and arguments keep bubbling up. Is it normal for families to argue more during the holidays?

It’s common for families to experience more arguments during the holidays.
 
With everyone spending more time together, and the added stress of the season, it’s natural for tensions to be high.
 
The best way to deal with this is to try to:
  • stay calm
  • communicate openly
  • make sure everyone gets a bit of personal space.
If you’re feeling frustrated, try counting to 10 and taking deep breaths before responding. Remember, it’s OK to take a break and gather your thoughts, everyone needs space to recharge.
 
You can also visit our advice page for managing arguments and conflicts. 

It’s quite normal for families to argue more during the holidays.
 
The festive season can bring extra stress, and spending more time together can sometimes lead to conflict. 
 
The best way to deal with this is to try to:
  • stay calm
  • communicate openly
  • make sure everyone gets a bit of personal space.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a moment to breathe and gather your thoughts. It’s OK to take a break, and talking about your feelings with others can also help.
 
You can also visit our advice page for managing arguments and conflict. 

It can be common for there to be more family arguments during the holidays.
 
This is normal as the extra time together, combined with the stress of the season, can make tensions run high. 
 
The best way to deal with this is to try to:
  • stay calm
  • communicate openly
  • make sure everyone gets a bit of personal space
If you’re feeling irritated or annoyed, try taking a few deep breaths and counting to 10 before reacting. Remember, it’s OK to take a moment for yourself to recharge.
 
You can also visit our advice page for managing arguments and conflict.

4. Your child has been feeling lonely this Christmas, even with family around. You’re concerned and want to help. Is feeling lonely during the holidays something you should worry about?

Feeling lonely during the holidays can happen. Even with people around.
 
Children can feel lonely for a number of reasons, including not feeling connected to or understood by others. 
 
There are ways you can try to help your child when they feel lonely.
 
You could: 
  • talk to them about their feelings 
  • reassure them that loneliness doesn’t last forever, and everyone can feel lonely sometimes
  • work together to find ways to feel less lonely.
Remember, loneliness isn’t something that can be fixed in just one conversation. Keep talking regularly to help your child feel more supported and understood.
 
We also have more advice on supporting a child who feels lonely.
 
If you’re worried that your child’s loneliness is getting worse, it’s important to speak to teachers, community leaders, or others who know your child well. They could give a different perspective or other suggestions to help.  
 
You can also reach out to healthcare professionals for more support, which could be in-person or online.
 
And our befriending service, Building Connections, is also here to help children and young people struggling with loneliness. 

Loneliness during the holidays is something to take seriously. Even if your child is surrounded by family, they can still feel lonely if they don’t feel truly connected to or understood by others.

It’s important to look out for signs that your child might be feeling lonely.  And there are ways you can try to help your child if they are. You could: 

  • talk to them about their feelings 
  • reassure them that loneliness doesn’t last forever, and everyone can feel lonely sometimes
  • work together to find ways to feel less lonely.
Loneliness can be difficult, but by talking to your child regularly and giving them support, you can help them feel less isolated. We also have more advice on supporting a child who feels lonely.
 
It’s also important to look out for if your child’s loneliness gets any worse. If it does, you could speak to teachers, community leaders, or others who know your child well. They could give a different perspective or other suggestions to help.  
 
You can also reach out to healthcare professionals for more support, which could be in person or online.

It’s normal to question whether you should be worried about your child feeling lonely during the holidays.
 
Loneliness, especially at times like Christmas, can be a concern, even if your child is surrounded by family.
 
Children can feel lonely for a number of reasons, including not feeling connected to or understood by others.
 
There are ways you can try to help your child if they are feeling lonely. You could: 
  • talk to them about their feelings 
  • reassure them that loneliness doesn’t last forever, and everyone can feel lonely sometimes
  • work together to find ways to feel less lonely

Remember, loneliness isn’t something that can be fixed in just one conversation. Keep talking regularly to help your child feel more supported and understood.

We also have more advice on supporting a child who feels lonely.
 
It’s also important to look out for if your child’s loneliness gets any worse. If it does, you could speak to teachers, community leaders, or others who know your child well. They could give a different perspective or other suggestions to help.  
 
You can also reach out to healthcare professionals for more support, which could be in-person or online. And our befriending service, Building Connections, is also here to help children and young people struggling with loneliness. 

5. Your child seems down and anxious during the holidays. They’re not as interested in things they used to enjoy and seem withdrawn. Could these be signs of depression or anxiety?

What you’re noticing could be signs of depression or anxiety in your child.
 
If you think your child might be experiencing anxiety or depression, you could try keeping an eye on how they’re behaving and think about what’s normal for them. 
 
There are things you can do to help your child who’s struggling. This includes:  
  • letting them know you’re there for them and they can be honest with you
  • talking to them over text if they don’t feel they can talk in person
  • being patient and staying calm, even if their behaviour upsets you
  • thinking of healthy ways to cope, like yoga, breathing exercises or mindfulness.
If they’re finding it hard to talk at home, encourage them to speak to their GP, to someone at school, or to Childline.
 
Our advice on how to support a child with depression or anxiety should also help.

While what you’re noticing could be just holiday stress, it could also be signs of depression or anxiety.
 
It’s important to think about what’s normal for your child and if they’ve been behaving differently for a while. 
 
There are things you can do to help your child who’s struggling. This includes:  
  • letting them know you’re there for them and they can be honest with you
  • talking to them over text if they don’t feel they can talk in person
  • being patient and staying calm, even if their behaviour upsets you
  • thinking of healthy ways to cope, like yoga, breathing exercises or mindfulness.
If they’re struggling to talk at home, encourage them to speak to a GP, to school staff, or to Childline.
 
Our advice page can also help you support a child with depression or anxiety.

It’s OK to be unsure, but what you’re noticing could be signs of depression or anxiety.
 
It could be more than just holiday stress and might mean your child is struggling. Think about what’s normal for them and if their behaviour has changed recently. 
 
There are things you can do to help your child who’s struggling. This includes:  
  • letting them know you’re there for them and they can be honest with you
  • talking to them over text if they don’t feel they can talk in person
  • being patient and staying calm, even if their behaviour upsets you
  • thinking of healthy ways to cope, like yoga, breathing exercises or mindfulness.
If they’re finding it hard to talk to you, suggest they speak to a GP, to someone at school, or to Childline for support.
 
Our advice page can also help you support a child with depression or anxiety. 

6. Christmas is supposed to be a joyful time, but you're feeling overwhelmed and struggling with your mental health. How can you manage your wellbeing while also being there for your children?

 

This can be the right approach to try. Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your children.
 
Christmas time can feel overwhelming and stressful, it’s OK to find it difficult to juggle everything.
 
Start with small, achievable tasks each day, like making a short to-do list. 
 
You could also try coping strategies that have worked for you in the past, like:
  • mindfulness
  • taking a break
  • talking to someone you trust
It’s OK to reach out for support from friends, family, or organisations like Mind or Samaritans.  You can also call our Helpline for parenting advice. And remember, by looking after yourself, you’re also helping your children feel safe and supported.
 
You can also look at our mental health and parenting advice page for more support. 

While it’s important to take care of yourself and put yourself first sometimes, your children are still your dependants and will still need and want you to be there for them.
 
Especially at an exciting and overwhelming time like Christmas. 
 
Balancing looking after yourself and being there for your children can be difficult, but there are ways to manage. 
 
You could try focusing on small, manageable tasks each day like making a short to-do list, so your and your children’s needs are both being met.
 
By looking after everyone in your family, including yourself, you’re helping your children feel safe and supported. 
 
You could also try coping strategies that have worked for you in the past, like:
  • mindfulness
  • taking a break
  • talking to someone you trust.
And you can look at our mental health and parenting advice page for more support. 

Christmas time can feel overwhelming and stressful and it’s OK to find it difficult, but ignoring your feelings can make things worse. 
 
Taking care of your mental health is important especially during stressful times like Christmas.
 
Focus on small, manageable tasks each day like making a short to-do list. 
 
You could also try coping strategies that have worked for you in the past, like:
  • mindfulness
  • taking a break
  • talking to someone you trust.
It’s OK to ask for help, whether from friends, family, or organisations like Mind or Samaritans. Looking after yourself means you can be there for your children, too.
 
You can also look at our mental health and parenting advice page for more support. 

7. Your child is spending more time online during the holidays. How can you support their online wellbeing?

When children are not at school during the holidays, it can be easy for them to spend a lot of time online instead.
 
Spending too much time online can sometimes lead to stress or anxiety, especially if children feel pressure to keep up with friends or social media.
 
It’s important to balance online time with other activities. 
 
Have regular conversations with your child about what they’re doing online to help them feel more comfortable sharing any worries with you. 
 
You can also:
  • manage the content that your children see
  • make sure the interactions they have are suitable
  • manage how long they’re online, in balance with other activities.
There are also app settings to manage their online experience, like silencing notifications or setting up ‘do not disturb’ periods to encourage breaks.
 

When children are home from school during the holidays, they can end up spending more time online.
 
It can help to have regular conversations about their online activities, just like you would about their day at school. This can help them feel comfortable sharing any worries with you.
 
You can also:
  • manage the content that your children see
  • make sure the interactions they have are suitable
  • manage how long they’re online, in balance with other activities.
It’s also a good idea to use app settings to manage their online activities, like silencing notifications or setting up ‘do not disturb’ periods to encourage breaks. 
 

It can be easy for children to spend more time online when they’re home from school during the Christmas holidays.
 
It’s good for children to learn how to stay safe online, but it can be tricky for them to do this on their own. They might need your support to manage it in a healthy way. 
 
Talk to them regularly about what they’re doing online. This can help them feel more comfortable sharing any worries with you. 
 
You can also:
  • manage the content that your children see
  • make sure the interactions they have are suitable
  • manage how long they’re online, in balance with other activities.
You can also use app settings to manage their online experience, like silencing notifications or setting up ‘do not disturb’ periods to encourage breaks.