IT might be most 11-year-olds' favourite time of year, but for George Stephens the excitement of Christmas is sometimes too much.

The youngster from Bramcote has autistic spectrum disorder, and finds it hard to control himself when he gets excited and anxious.

As a pupil at mainstream schools, the anticipation and changes during the build-up to Christmas have often left him upset.

And in previous years the festive period has resulted in him becoming violent, and even self-harming.

George now goes to Foxwood School in Bramcote, where the Christmas festivities are more suitable for his condition.

But mum Jo also needs to take steps to make sure the days around December 25 do not make her son too anxious.

She said: "One Christmas he woke up in floods of tears because it hadn't snowed.

"He was told it would snow, and he didn't understand why it hadn't.

"The key is to accept your child is autistic. You have to make allowances for them while respecting and loving everybody in the family."

Together with husband Kelvin and daughter Eleanor, ten, Jo makes sure all the presents are under the tree well before Christmas Eve, so George can get used to them being there.

The family also have a whiteboard where events are marked black for definite and green for possible.

Jo – who is a curate at St Michael's Church in Bramcote – says these techniques mean sudden changes that can make George anxious can be avoided.

The National Autistic Society has now unveiled a list of ten tips to help families of children with autism over Christmas.

The condition affects people's ability to interact socially and to communicate, but it can often be managed by sticking to a routine.

Tips published on the society's website include using advent calendars to help prepare for unexpected events, and putting Christmas-free time on the schedule each day.

Chief executive Mark Lever said: "Christmas should be enjoyed by all the family. This article offers advice on how to achieve this, by applying basic strategies tried and tested by many of our readers."

The society says parents should talk to teachers about Christmas preparations at their child's school, so they know about forthcoming changes.

Jo, 39, knows how difficult it can be for an autistic child at a mainstream school.

After moving to Notts from Hampshire four years ago, George went to school at Bramcote C of E Primary, where he struggled to cope with the excitement of the festive changes.

Jo said: "The school do what they think is fun for the children, but autistic children can't cope with that level of change and excitement. The school was excellent in trying to include him but it was obvious it wasn't going to work."

robert.parsons@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk