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The Christmas thread....

From the Head mistress

Question of the Week

“In the run-up to Christmas, a child says, ‘I hate Christmas,’ and the adult replies, ‘Come on, Scrooge — it’ll be fun.’ It might sound jokey, but how might this response shut down our professional curiosity? What are some of the possible reasons the child could feel unhappy about Christmas?”

Possible reasons

Family conflict or tension: arguments, stress, unpredictable routines.
Domestic abuse: Christmas can be a high-risk period at home.
Financial pressure or poverty: worries about gifts, food, heating, or comparison with peers.
Bereavement or separation: Christmas highlighting who is missing.
Sensory overwhelm: noise, lights, crowds, rehearsals, and disrupted routines.
Stressful contact arrangements: anxiety about handovers or seeing/not seeing a parent.
Seasonal alcohol misuse at home: fear or unease about family gatherings.
Unmet basic needs: tiredness, hunger, or instability.
Social pressure: not wanting to answer “What did you get?”
Mental health needs: anxiety, masking, or fear of the holiday period.
Caring responsibilities: knowing Christmas may mean additional, anxiety or stress.
(And of course, we might be affected by these things too.)

When a child says they ‘hate Christmas’, it’s rarely about the holiday itself, it’s a cue to pause, stay curious, and gently explore what might be underneath.


Its a bit poignant for a jolly thread. But thats the long wind of it.
 
From the Head mistress

Question of the Week

“In the run-up to Christmas, a child says, ‘I hate Christmas,’ and the adult replies, ‘Come on, Scrooge — it’ll be fun.’ It might sound jokey, but how might this response shut down our professional curiosity? What are some of the possible reasons the child could feel unhappy about Christmas?”

Possible reasons

Family conflict or tension: arguments, stress, unpredictable routines.
Domestic abuse: Christmas can be a high-risk period at home.
Financial pressure or poverty: worries about gifts, food, heating, or comparison with peers.
Bereavement or separation: Christmas highlighting who is missing.
Sensory overwhelm: noise, lights, crowds, rehearsals, and disrupted routines.
Stressful contact arrangements: anxiety about handovers or seeing/not seeing a parent.
Seasonal alcohol misuse at home: fear or unease about family gatherings.
Unmet basic needs: tiredness, hunger, or instability.
Social pressure: not wanting to answer “What did you get?”
Mental health needs: anxiety, masking, or fear of the holiday period.
Caring responsibilities: knowing Christmas may mean additional, anxiety or stress.
(And of course, we might be affected by these things too.)

When a child says they ‘hate Christmas’, it’s rarely about the holiday itself, it’s a cue to pause, stay curious, and gently explore what might be underneath.


Its a bit poignant for a jolly thread. But thats the long wind of it.
Jeesus, never had that when I was at school.
 
From the Head mistress

Question of the Week

“In the run-up to Christmas, a child says, ‘I hate Christmas,’ and the adult replies, ‘Come on, Scrooge — it’ll be fun.’ It might sound jokey, but how might this response shut down our professional curiosity? What are some of the possible reasons the child could feel unhappy about Christmas?”

Possible reasons

Family conflict or tension: arguments, stress, unpredictable routines.
Domestic abuse: Christmas can be a high-risk period at home.
Financial pressure or poverty: worries about gifts, food, heating, or comparison with peers.
Bereavement or separation: Christmas highlighting who is missing.
Sensory overwhelm: noise, lights, crowds, rehearsals, and disrupted routines.
Stressful contact arrangements: anxiety about handovers or seeing/not seeing a parent.
Seasonal alcohol misuse at home: fear or unease about family gatherings.
Unmet basic needs: tiredness, hunger, or instability.
Social pressure: not wanting to answer “What did you get?”
Mental health needs: anxiety, masking, or fear of the holiday period.
Caring responsibilities: knowing Christmas may mean additional, anxiety or stress.
(And of course, we might be affected by these things too.)

When a child says they ‘hate Christmas’, it’s rarely about the holiday itself, it’s a cue to pause, stay curious, and gently explore what might be underneath.


Its a bit poignant for a jolly thread. But thats the long wind of it.
OMG ya Scrooge
 
Screenshot_20251203_161917_Samsung Internet.jpg
 
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