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Half of parents now more worried about cost of Christmas
New research that suggests that over half of families are thinking more about the cost of Christmas compared to this time last year. The research commissioned by CBeebies Parenting indicates over a third of parents are planning to spend no more than £100 on each child and a quarter say they are spending less on going out.
The nationwide survey* of over 600 parents of children aged under six, suggests the majority (78%) of parents, also say they find the festive season challenging, as the pressure to create a magical experience combines with the financial strain.
Despite tighter budgets, nine out of ten (92%) parents still feel an expectation to make Christmas special for their little ones. Instead of splashing out, families are choosing quality time over quantity. Over half say they won’t pay for extra festive events, instead they’ll be watching family films together (57%), baking or crafting at home (44%), and joining free local activities (42%).
The research also suggests that the mental load parents carry at Christmas contributes significantly to festive stress, with nearly a quarter saying the planning and organising are the hardest parts of the season, followed by managing costs and family commitments.
CBeebies Parenting is on hand to support families, with expert-led advice and resources to keep things simple this Christmas without losing the magic. Whether you’re looking for ideas for low-cost activities, tips to manage children’s expectations, or brilliant festive programming to enjoy together including the much-loved CBeebies Panto – this year Cinderella filmed in Bradford, City of Culture.
Parents can explore CBeebies Parenting’s guides on financial costs, sensory overload, no-stress festive traditions and simple family activities to make the season meaningful and manageable. They can also listen to the CBeebies Parenting Helpline to hear more about the festive juggle, as Charlie’s Dad joins Phillipa Perry with tips on navigating family dynamics during this time on 27th November, and a special episode focusing on Christmas activities that won’t break the bank with Sophie David (Little Happy Learners) on 4th December.
Charlie Hedges, host of the CBeebies Parenting Helpline podcast, said: “Christmas can feel magical, but manic all at once! With all the planning and the pressure, it becomes a festival juggle doesn’t it! I’ve spoken to so many parents on the CBeebies Parenting Helpline who feel the same.
“But when I look back, it not the gifts I remember getting from Santa, it’s putting out the picky food together with mum, dad and my brother on Christmas Eve, my nanna staying over, my mum and dad lifting my brother and I up so we could all put the angel on top of the Christmas tree together and cuddling on the sofa watching TV. All things I now do with my little girl.
That’s what CBeebies Parenting Helpline Christmas episodes are all about, reminding families that the most magical moments come from time together, not how much you spend.”
Sophie David, founder of Little Happy Learners said: “Christmas can bring so many joyful moments, but for many families it also brings pressure, in the form of the planning, the spending, the expectations. However, what children remember most isn’t the presents, it’s the connection.
Children crave our attention and time more than anything else! Our presence and those pockets of time where we slow down and join in their world, are the most important. Simple activities like baking, crafting, or curling up for something festive on the TV, create the kind of magic that stays with them forever.
If we take the pressure off ourselves, we can give our little ones the greatest gift of all, a calm and connected Christmas filled with snuggles and love!”
Sophie has shared a range of fantastic, budget-friendly craft ideas on CBeebies Parenting, including a chocolate-free advent calendar,‘Elf Poo’ cookies, cinnamon salt-dough decorations, paint-your-own cookies and Christmassy bath fizzers, giving families fun, crafty ways to celebrate the season together.
Alongside all the great activities above, the whole family can get cosy to watch a host CBeebies’ favourites in magical collection of festive episodes on iPlayer including Bluey, Hey Duggee, Dodge’s Pup School and Spidey & His Amazing friends. This year’s iconic CBeebies panto, Cinderella, takes centre stage on CBeebies and iPlayer on 6th December, with special performances including an exclusive song only available in Vue cinemas across the UK.
CBeebies Parenting can be found www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/parenting and on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds. The latest series of CBeebies Parenting Helpline presented by Charlie Hedges starts today on BBC Sounds.
*The survey of 659 parents of children aged 0-6 was conducted by Ipsos for CBeebies Parenting in November 2025.