How to Keep the Merry in Christmas with Excited Kids!

  Handling an overexcited child during the Christmas season can be both challenging and rewarding can’t it ? Here are some tips to help manage their excitement and make the holiday season enjoyable for everyone: Set Expectations: Clearly communicate what to expect during the holiday season. Let them know about planned activities, traditions, and any […]

Co-Parenting Over Christmas – Ideas to Help

I was delighted to have been interviewed about Co-Parenting over Christmas – often a tricky and stressful time for The Divorce Magazine. We focused on helping children of divorced parents’ during their first christmas and their life after divorce co -parenting. Click here to read and watch the video.

How do YOU handle Christmas Family Fall Outs? Sure Fire Tips to Help.

  I was interviewed a few years ago on the Vanessa Feltz Show on BBC Radio London about the news that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle didn’t join the Queen for Christmas as they have chose to spend baby Archie’s first festive season away from Sandringham. Big News? None of our business ? Well, whatever […]

7 Great Additional Needs Toys For Christmas

This year I’ve made a lovely new friend in Georgina Durrant ( listen to our fabulous interview on my parenting podcast )who writes a wonderful blog for parents of children with Special Needs called The SEN Resources Blog It’s BURSTING with advice, learning activities and recommended toys, books and resources for children with SEN. Do head over […]

Kids and Teenagers With ADHD and the Christmas Holidays. Jingle Bells or Jingle Hell?

    I found an interesting article on Health Central about Teenagers finding the change in routine very stressful around the Christmas  holiday time. Here are some tips to help you get through the holiday period when you have a teenager with ADHD: Plan out their holiday homework. Once your child reaches secondary school, teachers often assign […]

Is yours a MAD HOUSE at Christmas ? Here are my tips to calm things down.

  I was really delighted to see my tips appear on Cheryl Pasquier’s Mad House Family Review  site this weekend. “A friend of mine is having trouble sorting out the arrangements over Christmas Dinner with her ex. I thought that maybe I should encourage her to refocus her priorities, by reminding her of something important. […]

Tips for Shopping With Toddlers at Christmas.

  I think Christmas shopping and shopping generally with toddlers, is given a bad press! With a little bit of planning and some common sense there are many practical ways to take the stress, frustration and tension out of buying your father- in – law his annual socks and festive tie!  Remember that small children […]

How To Survive Your First Christmas Alone

It can be really stressful facing your first Christmas alone. Perhaps, you are finding that you have had 20 years of family Christmases with tinsel and turkey, kids unwrapping their pressies in pyjamas with the Carols singing out on the stereo, the log fire blazing and a full house brimming with family. Then it all […]

More Play Leads To More Learning – Making Christmas Presents Easy

“Play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth.”  ~ American Academy of Paediatrics It’s coming up to Christmas and you’re probably wondering what toys to buy for your kids. I think it’s helpful to remember that more play leads to more learning and that […]

The Sue Atkins Gift Guide – 7 Great Parenting Christmas Gift Ideas

Looking for the perfect present  but not sure what’s best? 7 Great Parenting Christmas Gift Ideas Every item in this guide is personally chosen by Sue to develop confidence, creativity, self esteem & independence. Let the Sue Atkins Gift Guide take the stress out of choosing the perfect gift for your child whether they are […]

Do Christmas Lists Encourage Children To Be Greedy? Handling Pester Power!

So it’s coming to that time of the year when the kids start being marketed to by the media. Are your children pester ninjas? Do you feel under pressure to fulfill your child’s Christmas list? Well a survey today by the charity Mothers’ Union has called for an end to “pester power.” Some 84 per […]

Coping With Christmas Stress

Christmas, although a time of great joy and celebration, can also be the most stressful of times for even the best of parents, with the family home chaotic and often besieged by visitors. Throw into the mix over excited children who have weeks to sit around at home and the situation can quickly spiral out […]

The Sue Atkins Gift Guide: Parenting Made Easy!

    Sue’s Alternative to the ‘Naughty Step’ The ‘Easy Peasy – Lemon Squeezy Button’ is suitable for kids of all ages & allows you to record and playback 40 seconds of yourself saying ‘That was Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy’ via the built-in microphone and speaker – to motivate & encourage your child to brush […]