Five ways to have a stress-free family Christmas

Christmas is the season of giving, forgiving and forgetting, but we all know that families gathering en masse can be complicated. Add in a mix of wine, overexcited kids, a couple of weeks of Covid tension and a meal to organise for more people than should be humanly possible, and you’ve got a recipe for a spat. But with the right combination of activities, time out and safe conversations, who says Christmas can’t all be merry and bright? Here are a few pointers the keep things light.

Avoid contentious topics

Grandpa always said, “Avoid politics and religion”, and she was absolutely right. While a healthy debate can be fun, doing it during the holidays with the family assembled is probably not the time. Stick with safer topics everyone can enjoy contributing to – and if the clan find pleasant chat really difficult, invest in a conversation starters game, or even make one! It’s easy to write down a series of interesting (but inoffensive!) questions, print them and cut them out, and toss them in a bowl for when the chat needs a boost.

Take time out

While spending time with loved ones is almost always wonderful, let’s face it, we all need a little out every now and then. Providing it’s not the moment to help with the cooking or something else important, there’s nothing wrong with popping upstairs for a quick “nap”, and then taking half an hour to unwind.

Play games

Games that can involve the whole family are a great way to have some fun and bond over the holidays. Pictionary is always a favourite, and easy for every to play, from the littlest to the grandest. Then there are boardgames, guessing games and even drinking games once the younger family members have gone to bed. There are endless ideas online and the kids could even be kept busy making up their own!

Exercise together

There’s nothing like a post-Christmas dinner walk to stave off the impending food coma, and the change of scene and endorphins gained from some brisk exercise will improve everyone’s mood. Even if the family are city-bound, the streets at Christmas are quiet and peaceful, and can be magical. If the weather’s not ideal for going out, it might be fun to join Joe Wickes as a group, or even take some time to breathe and do some yoga!

The editorial unit