Thu. Dec 26th, 2024
Cute little boy making gingerbread cookies house decorating at home in front of the Christmas tree child playing and enjoying Christmas concept

Happy Christmas from all of us here at the Sunflower Trust. We hope you all have a fantastic festive break.

With excitement and sugar levels at their peak, we thought you might find our five steps to calmness useful during the holiday. We hope you find these useful in your own families, but also feel free to publish them if you like; we have included our logo and a picture.

1. Uninterrupted breathing – encourage your child to spend a few moments concentrating on their breathing. This will calm their body down and also serve as a distraction.

2. Positive face – ask your child to do a silly smile; it’s definitely much harder to feel angry or stressed when you are smiling.

3. Balanced posture – stand up tall together, releasing tension and helping the blood flow.

4. Release muscle tension – help your child to feel more relaxed by concentrating on thinking about something calm and enjoyable.

5. Mental control – encourage some positive thoughts and help your child to feel in control by asking: “What could you do to make yourself feel better?”

Have a lovely Christmas.

www.sunflowertrust.com

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By Penny McCarthy

Penny McCarthy is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Parents News UK, a pioneering publication launched in 1993 to serve the needs of busy parents in Southwest London. Alongside her husband, Fergus McCarthy, Penny played a crucial role in the rapid expansion of the printed edition, which grew from a local startup to a widely circulated monthly publication with a reach of 192,000 copies across Kent, South London, and beyond. Under Penny’s leadership, Parents News quickly became a trusted resource for families, providing valuable information on education, entertainment, sports, and family-friendly events. Her vision helped the publication extend its influence with franchises in Northern Ireland and Cornwall, catering to a growing demand for accessible, family-oriented content. In 1997, recognising the importance of digital media, Penny spearheaded the launch of Parents News UK Online. The website initially mirrored the content of the printed editions and has since evolved into a comprehensive online resource for parents, achieving significant popularity with up to 700 daily hits. In 2017, the publication transitioned fully to an online platform, continuing to inform and engage families across the UK. Today, Penny remains deeply involved in the ongoing success of Parents News UK, focusing on innovative advertising opportunities and future growth plans. Her dedication to supporting families through accessible and practical content has made Parents News a cherished name in households across the country.

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