How to keep children busy and deal with overexcitement?

Breaking: Paris Christmas gathering brings together comedians, psychologists, and renowned authors, spotlighting a festive chocolate yule log

PARIS – This Christmas season, a distinctive holiday gathering in the French capital unites voices from stage, science, and culinary writing, while spotlighting a chocolate yule log recipe readers can recreate at home.

Event overview

The occasion centers on a warm, family-friendly atmosphere where guests discuss holiday dynamics, the thrill of gifts, and the challenge of keeping kids engaged during reunions. The gathering also features a practical culinary highlight, a step-by-step chocolate log that blends tradition with approachable home planning.

guest lineup

Among the invitees is Jérémy Charbonnel, a comedian whose show “Seul Tout” runs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Théâtre du Point Virgule in Paris, with a special performance on December 31. He is slated to tour in 2026 across multiple French cities and beyond, including Geneva, Amsterdam, and Barcelona.

Adrien Blanc is represented as a clinical psychologist working in a pediatric-focused setting within a university hospital framework in Paris, contributing expertise on child growth and mental health.

Sylvie Da Silva discusses her professional journey in guiding and her passion for cultural travel in the Iberian Peninsula. Her culinary interests have grown through travel and family transmission,culminating in a life centered in Paris.

Book highlights from these figures include titles by Sylvie and other contributors, such as “Jouons ! A la découverte du monde, des autres et de soi” (in Press, 2023) and several cookbooks by Sylvie Da Silva focusing on global cooking and family meals, published by Mango across 2022-2025.

Recipe spotlight: La bûche choco

The centerpiece recipe, La bûche choco, serves four and is structured to be prepared the day before the holiday gathering. the recipe emphasizes a chocolate-forward dessert with coffee-soaked biscuit layers and a glossy ganache glaze. Preparation, chilling, and final glazing are designed to be completed in stages, allowing for an elegant turn-key finish the following day.

Ingredients (cake and glaze)

the cake base calls for dark dessert chocolate, eggs, butter, sugar, almond powder, coffee, and biscuit biscuits.The glaze requires additional dark chocolate, sugar, butter, and water. Equipment includes a loaf pan,a coffee pot,bowls,and a mixer or whisk.

Step-by-step overview

1. Lightly butter the pan. Separate yolks from whites and whisk yolks with sugar until pale. 2. Melt chocolate with butter, then fold into the yolk mixture. 3. Beat the whites with a pinch of salt and fold in almond powder, then gently incorporate into the chocolate batter. Chill the batter. 4. Prepare a strong coffee and cool it. Dip biscuits briefly into coffee and line a loaf mold, starting with the base and then the sides. Alternate layers with the chocolate mixture,ending with a biscuit layer. Cover and refrigerate overnight. 5.For the glaze, melt chocolate, then combine a sugar syrup made from water and sugar with the melted chocolate and butter. 6. Unmold the cake after chilling, let rest briefly, then glaze with a smooth coating and refrigerate again until the glaze sets.

Materials and equipment

Essential tools include a loaf pan, a coffee pot, multiple bowls, a whisk or electric mixer, a spatula, and film to cover the mold overnight. A sharp knife and cooling rack help with final plating after glazing.

Key facts at a glance

Aspect	Details
Event style	Holiday gathering in Paris blending culture, psychology, and home cooking.
Alex Reed 1	Jérémy Charbonnel – Comedian; performs in Paris; New Year’s Eve show; 2026 tour planned across several European cities.
Alex Reed 2	Adrien Blanc – Clinical psychologist; works with pediatric care in Paris within university hospital settings.
Alex Reed 3	Sylvie Da Silva – Travel-focused culinary writer; promotes cross-cultural cooking and family meals; Paris-based.
Books mentioned	Jouons ! A la découverte du monde, des autres et de soi; C’est moi qui cuisine le monde !; Portugal. Plats incontournables et voyage culinaire; Les parents à Table ! Nouvelle fournée; all published by Mango or In press (dates 2022-2025).
Recipe	La bûche choco – chocolate yule log with coffee-soaked biscuits and a chocolate glaze; serves four; overnight setting required.

evergreen insights for the season

Holiday gatherings often hinge on balancing tradition with personal touches. This event highlights how families and communities lean on shared recipes to foster connection, even when plans involve diverse voices from entertainment, mental health, and literature. The chocolate yule log exemplifies how a classic symbol of celebration can be adapted for modern kitchens, inviting readers to recreate comfort and joy in their own homes.

Reader engagement

what is your go-to holiday dessert, and how do you adapt it for your family traditions?

Which holiday moment would you most like to see captured in a future feature: a comedian’s on-stage stories, a psychologist’s counsel for family dynamics, or a chef’s step-by-step recipe?

Call to action

Share your favourite holiday recipe in the comments and tell us how you would tailor La bûche choco for your table. If you try the recipe, post your results and photos to join the conversation.

Disclaimer: This article provides general facts about holiday cooking and wellness and dose not constitute professional medical or legal advice. Readers should consult qualified professionals for advice tailored to their circumstances.

Engage with us: would you attend a similar holiday celebration, or prefer to host a private gathering with family and friends? Leave your thoughts below.

Ing wind‑down – low‑stimulus activities such as reading or puzzle‑building,ending with a consistent bedtime cue.

.### Understanding Overexcitement in Children

• Physiological triggers – high dopamine levels, lack of sleep, and sugar spikes can push kids into a hyper‑aroused state.
• Developmental factors – toddlers and early‑elementary children have immature prefrontal cortices, making self‑regulation a learned skill rather than an innate ability.
• Environmental cues – noisy, cluttered spaces and unpredictable schedules ofen amplify agitation.

Build a Predictable Daily Structure

1. Morning anchor (15 min) – a brief stretch, breath‑in‑breath‑out exercise, and a visual schedule board.
2. timed activity blocks – 30‑45 min of focused play followed by a 5‑10 min transition routine (e.g., tidy‑up song).
3. Midday reset – a quiet corner with pillows, soft lighting, and a “calm‑down jar” for sensory grounding.
4. Evening wind‑down – low‑stimulus activities such as reading or puzzle‑building,ending with a consistent bedtime cue.

Why it effectively works: Research from the Journal of Child Psychology (2023) shows that children with a visual timetable exhibit 23 % fewer impulsive outbursts compared with unstructured peers.

Quick Calming Techniques (5‑Minute Hacks)

• Box breathing – inhale for 4 counts, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4; repeat three cycles.
• Tactile grounding – press a soft‑rubber ball or a piece of textured fabric against the palm.
• Name‑the‑feeling game – ask the child to label their emotion (“I feel jumpy”) to encourage self‑awareness.

Engaging Activities That Keep Hands Busy

• DIY puzzles – cut cardboard into irregular shapes and let kids reassemble them.
• Kitchen chemistry – mix baking soda, vinegar, and food coloring for safe “volcano” experiments.
• Story‑building blocks – provide a set of picture cards; ask the child to arrange them into a narrative sequence.

Screen‑Time Management for Hyper‑Active Kids

Age	Recommended Daily Limit	Best Types of Content
3‑5	≤ 30 min	Interactive educational apps with built‑in movement prompts
6‑9	≤ 60 min	Short documentaries, guided drawing tutorials
10+	≤ 90 min	Strategy games that require planning and pauses

– Use parental control timers to enforce limits without constant verbal reminders.

• pair screen time with physical activity – e.g., a 5‑minute dance break after every 15‑minute video segment.

Physical Outlet Ideas (Energy‑Burning Activities)

• Obstacle course – set up cushions, tunnels, and low‑height hurdles in the living room.
• Rhythmic movement – drumming on a practice pad or clapping games that follow a pattern.
• nature scavenger hunt – create a checklist of five leaves, a pinecone, a smooth stone, etc., encouraging focused exploration.

Sensory Play for Regulation

• Weighted lap pads – a 2‑lb pad can provide proprioceptive input that calms the nervous system.
• Water beads – squishy, cold beads stimulate tactile receptors while remaining low‑mess.
• Aroma stations – lavender or chamomile essential oil diffusers (used under adult supervision) have been shown to lower heart rate by ~5 bpm in children aged 4‑8 (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2022).

Parent‑Child Collaboration Strategies

• Co‑design “calm‑down contracts” – let the child choose three favorite calming tools; both sign the sheet and refer to it during spikes.
• Weekly “energy check‑in” – a 10‑minute sit‑down where the child rates their excitement level on a 1‑10 scale, fostering vocabulary for self‑regulation.
• Reward the process, not just the outcome – praise effort (“You kept the game going for 20 minutes”) rather than achievement (“You won the game”), reinforcing sustained focus.

Case Study: Montessori‑Inspired Routine at a Community Center

• Setting: After‑school program in Seattle, 2023.
• Approach: Teachers introduced three “work cycles” per hour: 15 min of guided manipulation (beads, sewing), 5 min transition (clean‑up song), 20 min free exploration with a choice board.
• Outcome: Over a 6‑week period, incidences of “over‑excited shouting” dropped from an average of 4.3 per session to 1.1 per session.Parents reported an increase in home‑based self‑calming cues, citing the same transition song as a cue for bedtime.

Benefits of Consistent Engagement

• Improved executive function – regular, structured play boosts working memory and impulse control.
• Reduced anxiety – predictable routines lower cortisol spikes associated with uncertainty.
• Enhanced social skills – collaborative activities teach turn‑taking, empathy, and conflict resolution.

Practical Checklist for Parents (Print‑Ready)

• ☐ Create a visual daily schedule and place it at child’s eye level.
• ☐ Stock a “busy‑box” with puzzles, sensory items, and small craft kits.
• ☐ Set timers for screen use; pair with movement breaks.
• ☐ Designate a calm‑down corner with weighted pad, soft lighting, and aroma diffuser.
• ☐ Schedule at least two 30‑minute outdoor physical sessions daily.
• ☐ Conduct a weekly energy check‑in and update the calm‑down contract.

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