Christmas for many can be a lovely time, the build-up especially, with young and old getting excited for the Christmas day. It’s fantastic to see people being charitable to others, giving money, gifts and time to help those less fortunate and vulnerable.
Often, it can be easier to see those that are experiencing and in pain, those who are ill, those who are suffering in some way, but not always. Sometimes it’s hard to spot signs when someone hides them.
Unfortunately, even in 2024, we are living in a world of unrest, high costs, financial and work insecurity, war in Europe and other parts of the world, famine, displacement and the list goes on.
Imagine you, your adult self-growing up as a child now. Adults are far more resilient and know more than young people. If you are of a certain age, you would have grown up without computers and social media, three channels on a rented black and white TV, a colour one if you were lucky and then it went off at midnight when the transmitter was shut down. We now live in a world where it’s constant, we get it from all angles, bombarded with catastrophes, bad news and pressure to buy things, go places and do things. Young people feel the same. Their pressure comes from different places, places we didn’t have when we were growing up.
Christmas for some young people is lonely and scary. If their families, guardians or carers can’t afford presents or the latest must have presents then young people can get bullied when they go back to school, they may suffer abuse or watch other family members being abused. They may not get any gifts, be left alone, not able to see their friends. Christmas can be a stressful time when emotions build up and tempers flare. Last year the Salvation Army distributed more than 84,000 gifts to children that would not have got anything. Whilst we can’t always donate money or time, we can do our bit and help keep young people safe.
But for every negative platform there are many positive safe platforms for young people, some are listed below. Even if your child is not experiencing any issues, get them to have a look they may recognise some of the signs in their friends and even themselves, and even take a look yourself it can help with those difficult conversations around growing up, it is a real eye opener to what young people are facing right now.
www.chidline.org.uk
www.nspcc.org.uk
www.youngminds.org.uk
www.papyrus-uk.org
Wishing you, those you love and who love you, a peaceful festive period with hope for a brighter new year around the corner from Dave and Julie.
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