December always seems to arrive with a to-do list of its own. School shows. Santa visits. Christmas fairs. Matching pyjamas. Crafts. Class parties. Family gatherings. Extra activities squeezed into already-full weeks.
And somewhere between all of that, we’re meant to make everything magical.
But here’s the thing I keep reminding myself — and maybe you need to hear it too:
Children don’t remember the perfect bits.
They remember the feelings.
They remember the moments we sat and read a book together while the fairy lights twinkled.
They remember the giggles walking home in the dark.
They remember being warm, safe, and close to us.
Not the number of events.
Not whether we made everything from scratch.
Not whether we ticked off all the “shoulds.”
And for many families — especially SEND families — December can be too much.
The lights, the noise, the smells, the changes in routine… it can be a lot for small nervous systems to navigate. For some children, even the nicest traditions feel overwhelming. And that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong as a parent.
This week, during one of the PE sessions I teach at our local specialist school, we stayed in the classroom instead of the hall. The whole school has moved into Christmas mode, with special activities taking place all month, so hall time is limited.
Some children absolutely thrived with the familiarity of the classroom. No big transitions. Softer acoustics. Smaller space. It felt safe and predictable for them.
For others, the Christmas tree was… let’s say very exciting. We had baubles being removed, launched, rolled, and rattled. The classroom isn’t always an ideal PE space for obvious reasons — but it reminded me again how differently children experience the world at this time of year.
And how much they need us to slow down.
So if you’re feeling the pressure to do all the things, spend money you don’t really have, squeeze every moment full of “magic”… here’s your permission to stop.
Your child wants you, not the extra noise.
Whether that’s a slow bedtime story, a walk to look at lights, or five peaceful minutes sipping hot chocolate — these will be the moments they carry with them.