Overstimulated at Christmas: Supporting Your Child’s Regulation During the Holidays

While the world focuses on festive magic, many parents are quietly bracing for the impact of broken routines and big family expectations. In this warm, honest, and direct episode, Eva is joined by child psychologist Faye to look at what is actually happening in a child’s brain when the holidays become "too much." We move past the guilt of holiday stress to explore the science of overstimulation—from the exhaustion of travel to the sensory overload of big gatherings.Faye shares realistic, parent-tested tools to help you protect your child’s emotional safety without feeling like you have to control every single moment. We discuss how to navigate family pressure when your child needs space and why your own regulation is the key to their calm. This isn’t a guide to a perfect Christmas; it’s a survival plan for creating pockets of peace amidst the chaos, ensuring the season feels supportive for the whole family.