Ho-ho-ho! Christmas is there! Well, in the shops and supermarkets the Christmas decorations and chocolate figurines have appeared the day after Halloween. But the moment has now arrived and we have to figure out how to happily celebrate the holidays… or at least to survive them.

I know that you, fellow parents of gifted children, are already nodding, because you perfectly know what I am talking about. The Christmas days, with their celebrations and visits to family and friends, presents and lavish food, decorations and lights are an assault on the senses even for neurotypical people. Some like it, some don’t. But for gifted children with their overexcitabilities, all this can quickly become overwhelming. And a difficult moment – meltdown, drama, fights – is around the corner. If parents are also gifted, this is a double challenge.

So belts and braces and let’s put together some ideas and options which can help us – parents and kids – get through it and enjoy at our best the holiday period.

What I am writing here apparently resonates with Carolyn K., founder and director of Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page, who published on her blog a post with the title Surviving the Holidays. This post provides links with advice on how to tackle the family gatherings and holidays in general, as well as links to some ideas for activities.

You can find further reflections about Managing the Holiday Season with Gifted Children, with links to posts from bloggers, some health professionals and specialised organisations.

Need a quick overview of practical tips? Then visit Parenting Gifted Children Through the Holidays (a bit less recent, but still valid).

We know that you are all resourceful parents – if you manage the day-to-day without breaking, you must be – but in case you are looking for new ideas for Christmas-themed activities to do with your kids, you will find here plenty of ideas for crafting, experiments and much more.

We hope that this post was useful for you to live peaceful and enjoyable Christmas holidays and we wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy start in 2026!!!