Joanna Fortune: How can I manage my child's Christmas excitement? 

"Remember, children never seek to be difficult - instead, they want to communicate they are having difficulty."

Christmas can be a trying time, as excitement and expectation can sometimes derail daily life

I love Christmas and all that comes with it but every year my children get excited to the point they find it difficult to sleep. How can I manage their excitement without spoiling the fun?

I feel for children at Christmas, which seems to be starting earlier and earlier each year. We barely have our pumpkins in the compost pile and the bells start to jingle, and the result is a prolonged period of heightened stimulation that many kids find overwhelming.