Christmas is such a wonderful time for the whole family to enjoy. Having a break from regular everyday life and enjoying a more laid-back approach to everything is a very welcomed thing.

The sense of routine loosens entirely, the food changes completely and the house functions at a different frequency. Having a chance to enjoy each other away from some of your regular responsibilities is really special. It allows you to focus on the important stuff which is, of course, the people.

We would hate to put a negative spin on such a wonderful time of year but I think it’s important to be realistic about how things are probably feeling now that it is January. 

Christmas has come and gone and parents are no doubt wondering how they can restore normality in their home after an extended period of fun and frolics.

While Christmas has brought so many amazing family memories to you all, we can completely understand that you might be craving a little bit more structure and normality back in your lives.

Here are our top tips for restoring the family harmony after Christmas.

1. Let’s talk about the chocolate. It started with advent calendars and quickly upgraded to selection boxes (plural). You’ve now found yourself seeing chocolate as acceptable snacks throughout the day (for you and the kids) and it JUST has to stop. The chocolate is responsible for a huge amount of those meltdowns, toilet issues and poor sleep for everyone. Gather up all of the chocolate and stash it away in a treat bag. It should last for ages. If you don’t trust yourself (or the kids) simply donate it or bin it – nobody will judge you, we promise.

2. Now that the chocolate is gone you’ll be googling about how to drip feed your children vegetables. After a couple of weeks of convenience food, too many treats and sandwiches for every single meal it will be a big transition to get back to “normal dinners”. Just start with a normal food shop. One that doesn’t involve boxes of chocolates, peanuts and wine. It’s the first step in the right direction. Start with a family favourite meal to ease everyone back into it. Something comforting that includes vegetables of some description. You can do it!

3. Slowly but surely reintroduce integral parts of the family routine that have been lost over the festive season. For example, you may have read a book every evening with your child before bed. Re-introducing that is a very powerful way of establishing that routine once again. You can build on it every day with another element rather than switching everything back on at once as that may be met with resistance.

4. If you have noticed that your children have become a little bit spoiled and their manners have gone out the window then you would be exactly like the rest of us. It is very difficult for personalities and attitudes to stay the same when daily presents and excessive treats have become normal. The first thing to remember is that your children will return to their normal pleasant selves and this is not a lost cause. What you are experiencing is completely normal. Setting boundaries and reminding the kids about the consequences of their words and behaviour can be achieved with good communication. Just remember Rome wasn’t built in a day.

5. Don’t shoot the messenger but... practice what you preach. If the kids are seeing you in holiday mode they will assume that is the general rule all round. Try to show normality by getting back into your regular routine. This may be around bedtime, food, chores and your mood which all of these things affect.