James Hunt, Author at Firefly Blog

How Technology Helps My Boys

One thing you learn (or hopefully you do) pretty early on when it comes to autism, is that everyone on the spectrum is different.

Just as unique as you and I, and anyone else in this world

Being a dad of two autistic boys, they’ve proved that to me time and time again.

Even though they’re both autistic, non-verbal, have sensory challenges, they also couldn’t be more different.

One such difference is how technology has become an essential part of their lives and in completely different ways.

For my eldest son Jude, an iPhone or iPad with YouTube on is his idea of heaven.

For someone who struggles with the stresses of everyday life, and the sensory overload it can bring, his tablet gives him the chance to escape and relax.

From an early age cartoons and music videos seemed to be a great soother for him.

When overwhelmed, or coming down from a meltdown, it would often help.

However, it could also have the reverse effect.

Being non-verbal, and having limited communication skills, Jude would struggle to make it clear what it was he wanted to watch.

Even though he only had a couple of cartoons he’d watch, I’d constantly be having to change back and forth, trying different episodes, as he’d get more and more upset.

Unable to use the remote control, he relied solely on somebody else making a choice and changing it for him over and over.

Then one day we tried a tablet, and whilst it took some time, thanks to the ease of touchscreen technology, and YouTube’s recommended videos, he soon figured out how to use it himself.

He could be in control. He could stop, forward, or skip whatever it was he wanted to watch. It suddenly gave him a huge amount of independence.

When at home, it’s never far from his side.

Even if it’s just kept on, playing music on the other side of the room, knowing it’s there and he can access it when he needs to, massively reduces Jude’s anxiety.

If he gets stressed he knows he can simply pick up the iPad and go to his room, he’ll be able to find and control what it is he watches to help him calm down.

Just knowing he has that option has allowed him (and us) to try different things, go out to more places, knowing that portable jukebox is only seconds away.

For my other son Tommy, whilst he too enjoys YouTube and playing games on a tablet, it has become way much more.

His iPad is now his voice.

Non-verbal like his brother, Tommy has been progressing really well over the last year using PECS.

So much so that we have now moved onto an app called Proloquo2go instead.

With the help of the speech and language team at school, Tommy is now able to create and use simple sentences to request what it is he wants.

Not only that but because the app speaks out loud what it is he’s trying to say, he seems to be much more motivated to use it throughout the day.

He knows he can pick it up, and with the press of a few buttons, he can search for the right words to use to be able to communicate with me.

The reduction in frustration since we’ve been using it has been huge, and I’m sure this is just the beginning in how far his levels of communication are going to develop.

Two brothers, two very different boys, both living happier lives thanks to the wonders of technology!

How Raising 2 children with Special Needs Changed My Life

I knew becoming a parent would change my life.

Like most people, I probably didn’t appreciate quite how much, but I had some kind of idea.

Being a dad would bring new responsibilities, less free time, and a new purpose.

Being a dad was something I couldn’t wait to be, and I had a vision of what life would be like for our new family.

Yet, when your children have special needs, your life changes more than you could ever have imagined.

Some of these changes can be hard to take. They seem unfair, they weren’t supposed to happen to you or your child.

But then there’s also the unexpected changes, the development you go through as a person, the progress you make along the way.

My eldest son Jude was diagnosed with autism when he was just 18 months old.

Back then I knew nothing about autism, and had no real knowledge about any special needs, or had any contact with people who did.

My life was about to take a massive turn, and I had little idea just how much. Three years later my other son Tommy would also be diagnosed, again around 18 months old.

Over the last 9 years there’s been many changes. Some have been difficult, real challenges to face up to each day. But at the same time some have been for the better.

Firstly, I’ve become a carer as well as a father. The needs of both of my boys are very complex, and they need constant 1-1 support.

They need help with personal care, and it is likely they will need support for the rest of their lives.

It’s quite a difference to the typical parent role I imagined when Jude was first born.

Struggling to be around each other has actually led to me becoming a ‘full-time’ dad. Me and their mum look after one boy each and swap every couple of days.

It gives them the 1-1 care that they need, and the best possible environment for them to live in.

With the challenges autism brings to their lives it can mean we end up quite isolated. Social occasions can be difficult.

Typical family activities such as going to the park, the cinema, days out, are often a step too far. So the amount of time I get to see friends and family has reduced massively.

It’s meant I’ve also had to completely change career.

Instead of working in London full-time I now work part-time from home, fitting everything I can around school hours, meetings and appointments about the boys, and school holidays.

This can also leave me feeling a bit lonely at times. Interaction with other adults (outside of the various meetings) is few and far between.

But, and this is a huge but, despite those challenges, the positive changes my boys have made to ME, far outweigh any negatives

They’ve opened my eyes to the world.

I knew very little about anyone with special needs and disabilities, never gave it a second thought, now they are never far from my mind.

Being more considerate of others, wanting to make sure there is equality, opportunities for all, have become big passions of mine.

They’ve helped me develop incredible levels of patience. I always considered myself a pretty patient person, but I now have infinite levels compared to 10 years ago.

Which is an important skill to have when negotiating your way through this world, especially when it comes to dealing with and fighting for the services our children need.

They’ve helped me be more empathetic, non-judgmental, always thoughtful of how another person might be feeling.

To see the joy in the simplest of things, to celebrate every achievement, no matter how small.

Each day they show me how to be brave, how to get up and carry on, no matter how low I feel or how tough things might be.

If they can go out into the world, not knowing whether anyone will understand them when they try to communicate.

Unsure of how they are going to cope with the sensory overload that’s thrown at them everywhere they go, then I can do anything.

I can fight for them, advocate for them, and never give up in helping them grow and develop

They’ve shown me how to live in the present. As parents our minds often race ahead of us, scared of what the future might hold for us and our children.

My boys have no concerns other than what is happening right now, in this moment. Worrying about the future doesn’t help me in any way, being happy today does.

My role as a parent, and writing about our lives, has also introduced me to a new, amazingly supportive community.

Whilst we might not get to meet face to face very often, the online world means there’s always someone there with advice, or an ear to listen, who understands, and get’s what life is like.

It’s introduced me to some very close new friends.

Being a special needs parent has completely changed me as a person. It’s altered who it is that I want to be, the reason I get up every day, my purpose for being.

The unconditional love that you experience each day makes that impact, and leaves me striving to be a better person.

My life is different than I ever imagined, but better in oh so many ways.

Becoming a special needs parent is life changing in more ways than one. There’s a lot we need to deal with mentally, physically, emotionally, and logistically. It can often leave us feeling like we’re lost and alone.

You spend much more hours at home. Social occasions can sometimes be too difficult for our kids, or maybe just impractical too.

There are few people we trust to be able to look after them, so we can end up not going out and doing things for ourselves either.

Fed up of all the cancelled meet ups, friends who we thought would be there for ever start to drift away.

The ones who do stay around, we sometimes feel like they just don’t get what our lives are really like.

They just don’t understand, or we feel too exhausted to bother trying to explain.

As time passes, we can start to feel even more isolated, even more alone.

Nobody we know is living a life like we are, they just don’t understand what we go through.

Which is why it’s so important to do something about it. To be pro-active, to take the first step and find likeminded people who do get it.

Who can understand, who can give valuable advice, who have been through what we’re going through?

Here’s a few ideas of how to find them:

Start with Facebook

These days we’re lucky that technology can bring us together, no matter where we are in the world.

Being stuck at home, unable to go out doesn’t mean you have to be cut off from others. Search Facebook for online support groups relevant to the world of special needs.

There are 100’s of groups out there that allow people to share their lives and learn from each other.

Be brave, read a few pieces in the group and then ask a question, comment on someone’s post, share a little about your life. In no time at all you’ll find people interacting, offering advice, or just becoming someone to talk to.

Search your local area

You’ll be surprised what you might find. See if there’s a support group that has meet ups. Check with local charities, community centres, ask the professionals who work with your child.

Often there’s something going on nearby we just There’s always lots of parents nearby, it’s just finding a way to meet them.

Take a course

Go on any course that you’re offered by your local health care professionals or social worker. Not only will you get to learn more to help your child, but you’ll also meet other parents who may even live nearby.

Even if just for the duration of the course, it gives you a place to go, meet new people, and maybe share some of what’s on your mind whilst you’re there.

Meet people through your child

See what SEN sessions are available locally for different activities. Trampoline parks, swimming pools, soft play centres, often have a SEN session once a week.

A chance for you and your child to have fun, and again meet other families living similar lives to you.

Check with school

Often if our kids attend a SEN school, they take transport to and from school, meaning we miss out making any connection with the other parents.

So maybe they run coffee mornings, or meet ups to solve this problem. If they don’t, maybe it’s something they should do. Speak to the school, see if they can help you arrange one.

Finding our new tribe can mean we have to be brave, push ourselves outside of our comfort zone.

But we ask our kids to do this every day, so the least we can do is try to do the same.

The hardest part is taking the first step, finding your tribe and being brave enough to open up once you do. We’re never alone, we just don’t always look in the right places.

Choosing to be Grateful

When I first discovered my son Jude was autistic, I have to admit I found it really tough. He was just 18 months old, the future I’d imagined for him, and for us as a family seemed to like it was being ripped away from us.

I focused on the fears of what the future held.

Would he ever talk? Would he ever make friends? Would he ever be able to look after himself?

Over the next few years, things would get harder.

Jude’s younger brother Tommy was also diagnosed at 18 months old, and suddenly we are challenges seemed to have doubled.

The world was so unfair, what had we done to deserve this?

As yet unable to speak, there’s been meltdowns, self-harming, a severe lack of sleep, sensory issues, anxiety, and at times quite an isolated way of life.

In the early days I really struggled, I kept it all inside and rarely spoke about it, and whilst I was always full of love and did everything I could for them, deep down I was so upset about how difficult life was proving to be for my boys.

As time went on, as I learned more about autism, more about my sons, I started to get stronger.

Started to focus my energy on finding ways to learn from each challenging experience, to make life easier and better for everyone.

It’s not been easy.

There’s been a marriage break up in there too, and my boys struggle so much around each other that for the last few years me and their mum have looked after one each, and swap every couple of days.

They both need 1-1 care, and this is what we’ve found seems to work best.

But despite the rollercoaster of the last ten years, I am able to realise that I have much to be grateful for.

1. Both of my boys are physically healthy: Yes there might be meltdowns, and challenges coping with the everyday world, but they have no illnesses. They’re healthy, I’m healthy, and hopefully, we all will be for a long time to come.

2. The boys go to a fantastic school: Many families of children with autism or other special needs really struggle to find the right school setting. Often they might fall into the gap between mainstream and specialist provision, with neither being the right option. Some families have little or no choice and find themselves stuck.

I’m grateful every day that we’ve been able to find the right environment that both pushes them to learn, but is also full of love and cares for their wellbeing.

3. I have support from friends and family: My heart breaks every time I get a message from somebody who’s doing this alone. This life is tough to balance, and that’s with friends and family who are there to support me. Some parents I speak to haven’t had a night off in years, let alone get any time to do something for themselves.

4. Since diagnosis we’ve had support: I know this can be a lottery dependent on where you live, or when you received your diagnosis.

But overall I’m pretty happy with the support we’ve had over the years.

It could have been better, but I also know from speaking to others it could have been non-existent.

We were lucky to get a diagnosis so young for the boys and to be in the system ever since. Whilst there aren’t too many options when it comes to activities locally for the boys, we’ve generally not had to wait too long to see professionals, and have attended a number of courses.

I know this isn’t the case for many, for that I’m grateful.

5. We live in the UK: Whilst we might complain about the lack of support, knowledge, or education options available to us, sometimes we have to look at the world as a whole and be grateful we live where we do.

Imagine living in a country that had suffered a natural disaster, like Mozambique, Zimbabwe or Malawi have recently. Imagine living in a country that has no special education set up, no support system, and a real ignorance or complete lack of knowledge around special needs.

If life feels tough now, imagine your family living in that situation.

6. Both of my boys are making progress: It might not be at the same rate as other children their age, the steps might be smaller than I imagined years ago, but they’re making progress.

Life is very different than it was 2 years ago. Life’s very different than it was 5 years ago. Progress might not be linear or straight forward, but overall things are definitely getting better each year.

Our family is one that’s full of love, and for that I’m grateful

Life as a special needs family isn’t straight forward, and very different than what I imagined it might be.

There are still many challenging days, but whenever I start to feel low, I try to focus on what I’m grateful for. It works for me, maybe it will work for you too.

Deciding Whether to Medicate Your Child

As a dad of two autistic sons, there have been many things over the years that I wasn’t prepared for, or had any real understanding of before they happened.

There’s been no speech in nearly 11 years, sensory challenges, meltdowns, anxiety, and a severe lack of sleep.

But one of the biggest issues to rock me was when the subject of medication was first discussed for my son Jude, who was 6 at the time.

Jude had been having severe meltdowns for more than 2 years and was becoming increasingly violent in his self-harming.

It was happening every day, sometimes more than 20 times a day.

It was heartbreaking to watch.

Still, I was shocked by the suggestion. How could medication be the answer? Surely he was too young. I didn’t want him to become a zoned out zombie, surely that’s what they were implying.

Once I got over my initial thoughts and considered it further I began to calm down and see some reason.

For some of you out there, medication may already be an essential part of your child’s daily life, either for a physical or mental health issue.

For others, you might be shocked that doctors would prescribe something like that for someone so young.

But that’s the reality of the size of the challenge Jude was facing every day, even though he was only 6.

If a child’s problems were physical then there would be no hesitation in prescribing what they need to live a better life.

If he has a chemical imbalance causing such high anxiety, leading to frequent meltdowns, shouldn’t we do everything we can to try and change that?

Yet when it comes to mental health, the subject is still largely taboo, and one that many know very little about.

After more than a year or tests, observations, meetings with specialists, and my own research, we decided to give the medication a try.

We knew all of the possible side effects (increased appetite, headaches, stomach problems, drowsiness, increased anxiety) but decided it was worth the risk if the upside was a big reduction in anxiety, and in turn his self-harming.

Starting on the smallest dose, and monitored regularly by the mental health team, we gave it a try.

Fast forward 4 years and my son is a completely different boy than he was back then.

The medication seems to have just lowered his anxiety to a state that he’s more comfortable every day.

He starts off at a lower point, is more open to the world around him, and not liable to overload at the slightest noise or disruption to his sense of calm.

There’s been no drowsiness or drooling, the images that first entered my mind when I thought of medication.

It’s not been a miracle cure.

There have been a number of changes that we’ve implemented alongside it to also help in reducing his anxiety, but overall the difference is amazing.

He’s still on that initial low dose (we’ve tried weaning him off but the old behaviours returned) and no visible side effects that are of any concern to the doctors so far.

As fate would have it, we’re now about to go through the same process with his brother, Tommy, who is nearly 8.

Although completely different, Tommy has also reached a sage where he’s really struggling to regulate, to control his emotions.

He’s currently being assessed for ADHD and has regular aggressive and destructive meltdowns.

Medication might be the solution, or it might not. But it is an option that is being discussed. Having been there before it’s no longer a shock.

If all the reports come back with it as a recommendation, and after researching it still seems a good option, then we will give it a trial.

We owe it to him to do everything we can to make life more stable, more enjoyable.

Medication isn’t the right solution for everyone.

I wish that it wasn’t the solution that Jude (and possibly Tommy) needed, but it appears they do.

I just hope that we can talk about these things more openly, that the stigma is taken away from medication for mental health reasons.

So that if one day this is an option for your child, it’s not as scary as it first seems, and you can make the best decision you can for them

Living with Violent Behaviours Each Day

It’s not something that’s often readily discussed, but sometimes autism and other disabilities can lead to violent behaviour.

Being a dad of two boys on the spectrum, I’ve experienced a whole range of them over the years, but despite my experiences, they’re still no easier to watch happen each day.

With my eldest, Jude, he has always focused his meltdowns towards himself.

Self-harming by hitting, slapping himself, or jumping onto his knees. This was heart-breaking to watch, and luckily over the years with a lot of changes and adaptations to our lives, it has reduced dramatically.

Luckily right now, the meltdowns are few and far between and a lot less intense.

When they do happen he tends to try and sink his nails into your skin, rake as hard as he can, to show you how upset he is. Whilst it’s not very nice to be on the other end of, it’s manageable, and over quickly.

However, for the last 6 months, my younger son, Tommy, has now become increasingly violent.

When having a meltdown he tries as hard as he can to lash out at me or destroy anything he can get his hands on. He’ll turn his back towards me and kick back like a horse.

He’ll throw his arms windmill like and try to hit me as hard as he can. If I block him and he is close enough he’ll try to sink his teeth into me, and bite down with all his might.

If he breaks away from me he’ll kick the walls, windows, throw chairs, or any object he can get his hands on.

His stamina seems everlasting, with no let-up in intensity for at least 30 minutes.

Then, when it’s all over, when the red mist has disappeared, life goes back to normal. For Tommy at least, it’s as if nothing ever happened.

And for that I’m grateful. I’m glad there’s a little hangover for him from that outburst, that he’s able to recover quickly, be completely ok with me again, and get back to enjoying being together.

But sometimes, for parents like me, it’s less straightforward. As I tidy the house, clearing up the carnage, dealing with the broken mirrors, the holes in the wall, the chairs with 3 legs, it can be difficult to just switch back to normal.

Keeping my emotions in check whilst on the receiving end of these behaviours is a real challenge.

Staying calm, not reacting to the provocation, all the while trying to keep my child, myself, and anyone else around you safe.

Dealing with the emotions that stir up inside me before, during, and after these incidents every day, can be mentally and physically exhausting.

Why is he doing this? How can I help him? What can I do to prevent this happening each day? These are just some of the questions that fill my head all day long.

I’m a 38 year-old man, and I flinch from my 7 year-old son, so conditioned have I become to the threat of receiving a wallop at any given moment. It’s not an easy thing to admit.

Surely I should be able to manage and control someone so much smaller than me?

The truth is in that moment, there’s no controlling him.

It can make it hard to enjoy the good times. You have to find a way to not constantly be on edge, searching for triggers, trying to pre-empt and prevent a meltdown.

When it’s over and I survey the broken furniture, see the cuts and bruises I’ve received, it’s a challenge not to be angry, upset, fed up with going through this each day.

The bruises on the skin heal much more quickly than the bruises on the inside.

Each day requires so much planning, and when it goes wrong I can be left feeling like I’ve failed.

I want to go and do the things I know he enjoys, take him to the park, swimming, etc, but also know how hard it is to deal with these behaviours when out in public, or even worse, near a road.

Right now we’re waiting on further assessments, implementing sensory and routine changes to try and help Tommy self-regulate.

To feel like he can control his feeling better, and have a way of getting the same output he’s actively seeking, more safely.

Hopefully, in time these behaviours will reduce, and the clever, cheeky, inquisitive side of him will be much more prominent again.

So for the many families out there who go through this, I just want you to know that, despite it being rarely talked about, you’re not alone.

Living with these behaviours can be tough.

Tough for our loved ones who lose control in that moment, and tough for those of us who want nothing more than to help them calm down and stay safe.

Seek advice, seek help, and know that you’re not alone.

Looking Back at 2018

It’s that time of year where we look back and reflect on all that’s gone on over the last 365 days.

Often as special needs parents we don’t take the time to look back.

Our lives are so busy, so hectic, we’re always focused on the future and what lies in store for us and our family.

But I think it’s important to take stock every now and again, to look at what’s gone well, and maybe even reflect on what’s not gone so well too.

Doing so can help you plan the future more clearly, figure out what it is you really want to focus on and help your children achieve.

This year, like the last few, has been a bit of a rollercoaster for me and my boys, but luckily with more highs than lows.

They’re both autistic, non-verbal, attend a special needs school, and really struggle to be around each other.

Life can be pretty unpredictable, all going smooth one moment, and full of meltdowns and challenging behaviours the next.

Here’s some of the key moments I’ll always remember from 2018

Tommy learnt how to use the toilet.

This was the biggest milestone of the year for us. After many failed attempts over the last few years, around his 7^th birthday he just nailed it over the space of two weeks and never looked back.

It’s a life skill that many take for granted, and definitely makes life a lot easier.

We have a new weekend routine

We’ve found a special needs swimming club on a Saturday afternoon, and a SEN friendly trampolining session on a Sunday morning.

Having two activities to do on a weekend where you can have fun and be around others who understand our lives has been a blessing

Jude is happy around and interacting with his classmates

Over the last year Jude is becoming more and more comfortable around his peers.

The boy who used to be so anxious around other children has started to interact, turn take, join in activities with his classmates.

When we go swimming or trampolining he smiles at the others, and rather than trying to avoid them he watches them, interested in what they’re up to.

Maybe one day he will actually have friendships

Jude and Tommy have spent some time together

For the last 3 years, most of the time my boys have lived apart. I look after one, their mum looks after the other, and we swap every couple of days.

They both need 1-1 care, but more importantly Jude finds it impossible to be around his brother.

This year school have started to integrate them a couple of times a week, doing activities they both enjoy.

We’ve managed a few trips out together, and we’ve had a couple of nights where they’ve both stayed with me.

They’ve been challenging for all of us, but there’s definitely signs that it’s getting a little easier.

We had a holiday

I took Jude away for a weekend, not once but twice, and it was a success! We managed to stay with some family and friends and all share a house near the beach.

There were other kids there, and although Jude often kept to himself, the longer we were there the more comfortable he became.

Some of my happiest memories of this summer were of me, Jude and his cousin spending hours bouncing on a large trampoline together.

More happy social interactions for Jude!

Tommy said “Daddy”

Not only that, I caught it on video! He said it clearly 3 times and laughed each time.

He’s not said it very often since, just like Tommy seems to do with most of the words he’s ever said, but he is developing.

It feels like he’s on the brink of being able to talk, he understands so much, he just struggles to connect it all up.

Maybe 2019 will be the year he breaks through

So that’s what I’ll be taking from our year.

Maybe you should take the time to do the same, reflect on what’s been and gone this year.

Just writing those moments down and playing them back through my mind has made me smile.

It’s reminded me that we have so much to look forward to as well.

10 Christmas Gift Ideas For Children with Special Needs

There’s under 3 weeks to go until Christmas, and if you’re anything like me, you’re starting to panic about what to get your kids for presents this year.

I have two boys, Jude (10) and Tommy (7) and I always thought Christmas would be the most magical time of the year.

But for them Christmas is quite different.

You see their autism, and global development delay has meant that both boys have no real understanding of what this time of year means.

For them Christmas is just another day, only full of disruptions to the usual routine, with more people and flashing lights.

When it comes to presents there’s never been a list to Santa, and, especially in the early years, most toys bought for them have gone unused.

Each year it can be a bit of a challenge knowing what to get them, and with family and friends all asking what to buy them as well.

It can be easy to run out of ideas.

So, here’s a few ideas that might help you or your family, either presents I’ve bought in the past, or ones that I’m hoping will be a success this year

1. Sensory Basket

For my son Jude he doesn’t really have the motivation/motor skills for opening presents, so for the last few years I’ve made him a sensory basket and given it to him unwrapped.

This will have a few different sensory toys in that light up or have different textures to explore.

Some ribbons to flap, balls to throw, and toys to squeeze

2. Mini trampoline

This has always been a big hit in my house, an activity both boys love.

It gives them the sensory feedback they crave from bouncing, and also burns off some of their endless energy.

It also means they get to bounce all year round!

3. Body sock

I tried one of these recently whilst on a course, and it’s something both boys use at school.

Made from lycra, once inside and you press against it, it provides some really nice deep pressure that many of our kids crave.

I can see this being a fun game, and also a tool to help our kids when they need to regulate their senses.

4. Bubble tub

A favourite in sensory rooms all over the world, and great for kids of all ages.

The flashing lights and movement of the bubbles can have a real soothing effect, perfect for a bedroom to create a calm place for our kids to relax in.

5. Projector Lamp/Nightlight

An alternative to the bubble tube, they project a light show onto your ceiling or wall, and can also play music too.

With lots of different settings, they can help create a place of calm, and are easy to take with you when visiting family across the holidays!

6. Indoor swing

We’ve had an indoor swing for about 5 years now, and it’s been one of the best purchases I’ve ever made.

The almost cocooned feeling it can create combined with the movement of being swung back and forth or side to side, is a great sensory activity.

It’s also a great place to encourage interaction between you and your child too as there’s so many games you can play with them whilst they’re in there.

7. Chewable jewellery/toys

Many of our children love to chew on or mouth toys or different items.

The oral sensation they get can be calming and help them relax.

It can also be a worry though as often it might be with items that are dangerous or inappropriate.

These days there’s so many fun alternatives out there, with safe, chewable toys, or even jewellery such as necklaces or bangles that can be easily accessed and more discrete.

8. Sensory bottles

For the more creative among you, this is the perfect home-made gift.

Using a combination of an extra strong bottle, water, glue, glitter, and whatever other fun stuff you want to include, you can make a great present.

Google ‘sensory bottles’ for some inspiration, there’s so many cool ones you can make.

And if your kids aren’t into them, I’m sure they’ll help you calm after some of the stressful moments we go through.

9. iPad/Tablet case

If your family is anything like mine then the iPad is an essential piece of kit that you can’t live without, and that gets a lot of use over the holidays.

So the last thing you need this Christmas is for it to be dropped and broken.

Invest in an extra-strong case.

Take away any chance of that one drop ruining your holidays (and costing you a fortune to replace!)

10. Wireless Headphones

Whilst you’re at it, if a tablet is so essential in your house, invest in a pair of wireless headphones too.

We’ve all listened to Baby Shark, or some other random YouTube video 6 million times this year, well hopefully a pair of headphones will be a gift that both you and your child can enjoy!

I hope some of these ideas help the stress of finding the right presents a little bit easier this year.