Blanca Batllori is a school psychologist and Iris Pérez is a clinical psychologist for children and young people at the Support University Psychology and Psychiatry Clinic. They both advise that children should experience Christmas, despite the fact that this year has been fraught with change. “There is no doubt that Christmas has a magic so great that no virus can extinguish it completely”, says Batllori.

According to this expert, it is necessary to explain to children the changes that they are going to experience this holiday season with absolute normality. “The most important thing is keeping the magic and children’s joy alive during the festive season, despite the restrictions and limitations put in place due to COVID-19”.  As it will not be possible to get the whole family together this Christmas, Batllori insists that the lockdown has helped us discover “new ways of reaching out and maintaining relationships with those we cannot see in person. These tools are here to stay and we must make good use of them”.  According to the professional, “we must be able to teach children to focus on what they have now, not on what they would like to have or what they have had in the past”. “This is a great time to give to others, to those who are suffering much more than we are. Developing our empathy makes us feel more positive and really value what we do have.”

The elderly represent a much more vulnerable group than children, according to Batllori, “since the need for contact with family members and to share and experience Christmas as a family can be much more important for them than for children”. She also stated that this Christmas we must remember how important it is to think of those who cannot celebrate Christmas with us this year, and to be respectful and empathetic about the way in which each of us experiences this loss.

Iris Pérez also insisted on the need to plan well for Christmas, especially when it comes to children with mental disorders. “A few days before, families should come together to give children a clear and honest explanation, adapted to their level of understanding, as to how and why this year will be different from previous celebrations”, she explains.  Furthermore, “it is important they know their questions will be answers, their emotions are valid and that they should talk about their concerns”, adds Pérez.