SGPC News - Christmas Special 2021

ISSUE

3

NEWS

Top Tips for a

y p p ha

Christmas

2

Season's Greetings As we approach the countdown to Christmas we become increasingly aware of the pressure that is building as we approach THE BIG DAY!

Changes that come at this time of year can be seen everywhere:

shops

social activities

streets

school food & treats

routines

home

clothing

At SGPC we are all Parent Carers ourselves - and some of us have over 20 years of Christmas planning experience to draw on!

You can bet that we've made most mistakes, tweaked our ideas, and invested in learning about the do's and don'ts, and this year we thought we'd try to...

make your life a little easier

christmas survival tips

with our handy

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T a b le

04

of Co

Ch rist ma s

nte n

ts

Ho lida y S Act urv ivit iva ies l Ti and ps 07 Sup And por t Fin ally ...

08 Use ful Info and Cri sis Lin es

06

4

s p i t l a surviv

FESTIVE SEASON

Top Tips for keeping things

We love the festive season and can’t wait for the fun to begin but it's rarely that straightforward.

Some of our children can find it a confusing and overwhelming time of change, and a little planning can go a long way...

Plan for January and

Alleviating this anxiety can

Meet the needs of your

returning to school before

help our children to relax

child by considering how

the end of term. Have you

into the holidays.

your child manages social

got a plan for the first day back? Does your child understands what will happen on their first morning back? Is a new timetable required?

Consider all the different events and gatherings you are planning. This can be a very busy time - visits to or from family, visits to Santa, school events and fayres...

situations and interaction: do they need a day off after an activity? what time and aids may help them to selfregulate?

Visual Planners These can be a game-changer, especially when combined with images - but remember to talk about how sometimes things may need to change.

You may find it helpful to look a few days ahead and ask your child what your could do if the plans change. And given the strange times we're living through you may want to get a Covid Box

5

As parents we sometimes

calm this Christmas

get lost in the planning and

Top Tips: 1. consider your child's

can think from our own perspective - e.g. how much

individual needs; 2. use a visual timetable to

we enjoy catching up with

plan each week and the

family and friends and

month ahead - review it

cramming in fun activities -

and make a plan B;

but just pausing for a

3. plan to balance the

moment to consider the

needs of the wider

struggles of our children can

family (not always easy

be a really useful exercise

we know!)

that can lead to a calmer

4. make a plan with the

and happier Christmas time.

school for transition

What do you notice about

back in January

the occurrence of your

5. reach out if you need

child's meltdowns? Can you

support - see the links

identify the key triggers?

on the back page;

What helps them to self-

6. remember your

regulate or self-soothe?

wellbeing matters; 7. enjoy the small wins;

Consider travel

Consider travel

arrangements - can your

arrangements - can your

worked and what didn't.

child manage a return

child manage a return

We've found this is an

journey in the same day?

journey in the same day?

annual event that can

Would planning in breaks

Would planning in breaks

be improved upon year-

along the journey help -

along the journey help -

on-year.

maybe even stopping for a

maybe even stopping for a

favourite unmentionable

favourite unmentionable

fast-food snack?!

fast-food snack?!

Follow the Festive ready with some extra special treats - just in case your child is required to self-isolate - and make a plan with them for

Covid interruptions - none of us yet know if we will experience another lockdown.

thread on our private Community Face Group for tips from other parents and details of local activities.

8. take notes on what

9.

Plan for Covid interruptions - just in case!

6

s a m t s i r h c this

WHAT'S ON

DO YOU KNOW... what's on this Christmas?

The Department for Education are funding holiday activities and food clubs for children (aged 5-16 years). These run from 20th-30th December.

plus w

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a re C

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SG gr

PC

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clubs will run in the

activity, you may also be

Christmas holidays

able to pay for your child

- weekdays only and excluding

to attend if they do not

Christmas Day, Boxing Day and

get free school meals.

bank holidays.

Children attending who get benefits-related free school meals will be given a free lunch.

p

S ES C AC ERE H

m

Depending on the

Places are free for children who get benefits-related free school meals*.

iv e

ou

The activities and food

Activities can be booked through the websites of the providers and a full list can be found on the local authority website.

HOLIDAY FUN

As we went to press we were still waiting to hear about what local provisions are offering this season

Here are links to a variety of local groups that usually have activities running, and

Jigsaw Paul's Place (18+) Gympanzees Roadshow

some accessible special

Incredible Kids

needs festive events we're

The Hive (18+)

aware of

Mud Pie Explorers

Bristol Hippodrome - Snow White panto relaxed and sign interpreted shows The Tobacco Factory - Oz relaxed and BSL interpreted performances Flip Out - SEND sessions The Mall, Cribbs Causeway - Paddington themed SEND Grotto Sessions Autism / SEND friendly screenings Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park - SEN Ice-skating Sessions

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*we've heard there is some flexibility to provide spaces for children and young people assessed as:

being in need looked-after having an EHCP assessed as otherwise vulnerable

Par ent Ca rers wh ose chi ldre elig n a re ible can ma ke req a ues t vi a th ded e ica ted e HA ma F@s il out hgl os. gov .uk

living in areas of high deprivation.

Time To Say Goodbye

Christmas Can Be Difficult We all have our own memories and

One of our long-standing Consultant

expectations of a fun festive season but

Community Paediatricians, Dr Diana

sometimes they don't fit with the needs of our

Howlett, will be moving away and taking up

children. It can be hard when we have to re-

a new post in London, in January. We

evaluate our ideas and sometimes letting go

received a lovely email from Diana stating

of what we feel is the 'magic of Christmas' in

how much she's enjoyed her years in South

order to best support the needs of our child

Glos and has felt privileged to have been

can leave us feeling disappointed, upset, and

part of our lives. She requested that we

isolated when other families are posting their

pass on her thanks to our families, and we

perfect Christmas. We've found it can help to

would like to wish her well and thank her for

whatever works for your family is your own 'perfect' Christmas. remember that

her dedication, and working collaboratively with SGPC and Parent Carers.

...to take care of you Our 'Coffee and Chat' sessions are term-time only (register here for our

January catch-up!). But if you're struggling over

Christmas don't delay... contact your GP, check out the crisis lines on the back of this newsletter, or

you could

book a free, 1-2-1 telephone appointment with a family support advisor, through Contact's Listening Ear service. Book an online appointment here, or call

0808 808 3555

info

USEFUL

WELLBEING A local group Southern Brooks are hosting a number of Guided Meditation sessions and has developed some Wellbeing Resources that can help you focus on looking after your own emotional

CRISIS LINES

Young Minds - children's mental health Crisis Messenger Service - text 85258

wellbeing. They've also teamed up with

Hope Line - suicide prevention under 35's

South Glos Council to develop the virtual

Call: 0800 068 4141 Text: 07860 039967

One You South Gloucestershire wellbeing

Listening Ear - parenting support

hub.

0808 808 3555

One You contains everything from links to

Calm (for men)

group walks to photography and chat.

0800 585858 thecalmzone.net

Remember, looking after yourself is essential to looking after your child.

AWP 24/7 Mental Health Response Line 0800 953 1919

LOCAL INFORMATION Support for Children's Mental Health

SEND Local Offer

Children's mental health & wellbeing

SEND information, support & guidance

One You Mental Health & Wellbeing Support

Happy Maps

Supportive Parents Local information, support & guidance for SEND within an educational setting

Centralised information for parents worried about a child's behaviour or mental health

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

National Domestic Violence Helpline 24 hour support, 7 days a week 0808 2000 247

Healthy Relationships For Adults

Julian House

South Glos Council

Support for children

Next Link

Men's Advice Line

Local domestic abuse support

0808 801 0327