Helping Kids Manage Emotions During the Holiday Season: 5 Tips for Schools

The holiday season can be exciting but also overwhelming for students. Changes in routine like classroom parties and assemblies can disrupt students’ sense of predictability, affecting their ability to regulate emotions. Here are strategies to support emotional regulation during the holidays, along with five practical tips. Helping kids manage emotions during the holiday season makes this season smoother for students and teachers alike.

Encourage Predictable Routines as Much as Possible

Maintaining predictable routines can help students feel safe and in control, even when changes occur. Visual schedules can be a helpful tool in creating a sense of stability and setting clear expectations. Here are five tips for implementing routines effectively:

1. Use a Visual Schedule: Visual schedules provide a clear structure for the day, which can reduce anxiety about changes. Highlight any special activities, such as a classroom party or assembly. For ideas on creating visual schedules, check out these Visual Schedule Tips.
2. Maintain Routine Anchors: Identify consistent elements in the day, like morning meetings or snack times, to create a predictable framework. Even if the rest of the day is full of special events, these anchors provide familiarity.
3. Prepare Students for Changes: Notify students in advance about any changes to the schedule and discuss what they can expect. For students who need more support, offer reminders as the activity approaches.
4. Incorporate a “Countdown” Strategy: If there’s a party or assembly, consider using a countdown method to help students understand when the activity will begin. This can ease anxiety by giving them a timeline.
5. Use Calendar Markers for Big Events: For students who rely on structure, marking significant events on a classroom calendar can help them feel prepared and provide something to look forward to.

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Provide Breaks and Quiet Spaces for Recharging

Creating a calming corner or quiet space in the classroom allows students to step away and recharge when feeling overwhelmed. Here are five tips to set up an effective calming space:

1. Create a Cozy Area: Use soft seating like beanbags or a small tent to create a comforting environment where students feel safe to relax. Get more Calming Corner Ideas here.
2. Include Sensory Tools: Stock the corner with sensory-friendly tools like fidget toys, stress balls, or noise-canceling headphones. These can help students refocus and self-regulate.
3. Offer Visual Aids for Relaxation: Calming posters, visual breathing exercises, or grounding techniques on the wall provide easy-to-follow steps that can guide students toward emotional balance.
4. Provide Art Supplies for Self-Expression: Art can be a therapeutic outlet. Coloring pages, crayons, or simple drawing materials can allow students to express feelings they may not yet be able to verbalize.
5. Create a Guided “Calm-Down Plan”: Have simple, clear steps posted in the area (e.g., take five deep breaths, squeeze a stress ball, draw how you’re feeling). Having a routine for calming down can help students feel empowered to self-regulate.

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Practice Mindful Breathing and Body Awareness

Mindful breathing and body awareness exercises help students manage their emotions in a calm, focused way. Adding breathing activities before or after high-energy events can help students refocus. Here are five breathing and awareness activities to try:

1. Introduce Bunny Breathing: Guide students to take three short sniffs through the nose, followed by a slow exhale. It’s fun, easy, and can quickly shift a student’s energy. Learn more about Bunny Breathing.
2. Use Star Breathing: Have students trace a star with their finger, breathing in as they trace one side and out as they trace the next. This activity combines movement with breathing, making it engaging and calming. Try Star Breathing.
3. Practice Bumble Bee Breathing: Encourage students to take a deep breath in and then hum as they slowly exhale. This can be a fun, soothing way for them to find calm. Check out Bumble Bee Breathing for details.
4. Teach Belly Breathing: Show students how to put their hands on their belly and feel it expand as they inhale, then deflate as they exhale. This tactile approach can make them more aware of their breathing patterns.
5. Add Movement with a Grounding Exercise: Guide students through grounding by feeling their feet on the floor, relaxing their shoulders, and focusing on taking a few deep breaths. Simple movements like these help students become aware of their body and calm their mind.

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Foster Social-Emotional Skills Through Holiday-Themed Activities

The holiday season offers a natural opportunity to reinforce social-emotional skills like empathy, gratitude, and kindness. Here are five activity ideas to foster these skills:

1. Create a “Gratitude Tree”: Have students write things they’re thankful for on paper leaves and add them to a classroom tree. This can build community and positive emotions. Here is a huge collection of gratitude prompts.
2. Start a Kindness Challenge: Encourage students to perform small acts of kindness for each other, earning points or rewards. Focusing on giving can help balance holiday excitement with a sense of calm.
3. Use Role-Playing to Explore Emotions: Discuss holiday scenarios that might trigger strong emotions, like feeling left out or getting frustrated. Role-playing responses can help students prepare for real-life situations.
4. Do a “Holiday Emotions Chart”: Create a visual chart where students can express how they’re feeling each day, such as happy, excited, nervous, or tired. Acknowledging emotions can make it easier to manage them.
5. Introduce a “Giving Back” Activity: If possible, involve students in a small act of service, like making holiday cards for a local hospital. Engaging in giving can instill feelings of empathy and connection.

Implement Movement Breaks for Regulation

Movement breaks are essential for keeping students focused, especially with the added energy of the holiday season. Short physical activities can help students channel their excitement into constructive actions. Here are five ideas for effective movement breaks:

1. Try Animal Walks: Have students act out different animal movements like crab walks or bear crawls. These movements can be fun and grounding.
2. Do “Freeze Dance”: Play holiday music and have students dance, then freeze when the music stops. It’s a high-energy activity that also encourages self-control.
3. Incorporate Stretching Breaks: Simple stretches like reaching for the ceiling or touching their toes can help release tension and bring focus. Find more Movement Break Ideas.
4. Add a Jumping Sequence: Have students jump in place or create a simple pattern like “jump, squat, jump.” Physical exertion can be a great outlet for holiday excitement.
5. Use a Follow-the-Leader Game: Let students take turns leading different movements. It promotes creativity, active engagement, and gives them a sense of control.

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The holiday season is a special time of year that can also bring unique challenges for students. By incorporating these strategies, teachers and school staff can support students’ emotional regulation and foster an inclusive, joyful environment. The skills students develop during this time will not only help them through the season but also serve them well into the future.