The holiday season is filled with excitement—special events, family traditions, and festive moments that create lasting memories. For young children, however, these joyful changes can also feel confusing and overwhelming. When routines shift, even in positive ways, children often need extra support to feel safe, secure, and regulated.
At Heartfelt Impressions, our teachers spend time learning how predictability and routine support children’s emotional well-being. During the holidays, that learning becomes especially important as we help children navigate changes both at school and at home.
What Our Teachers Are Learning
Through professional development and coaching, our teachers deepen their understanding of how routines help children:
- Feel safe and secure
- Understand expectations
- Regulate emotions and behavior
Teachers learn that when routines change—later bedtimes, busy weekends, special visitors, or classroom celebrations—children may show stress through behaviors such as increased emotions, difficulty transitioning, or needing more adult support.
Rather than viewing these moments as misbehavior, teachers learn to see them as signals that a child needs reassurance, clarity, or consistency.
What This Looks Like in the Classroom
Even during special holiday activities, our classrooms remain intentionally predictable. You may notice teachers:
- Keeping core routines (meals, rest, transitions) consistent
- Talking children through changes ahead of time
- Using visual schedules and reminders
- Offering extra support during transitions
- Building in calming moments throughout the day
Teachers prepare children for upcoming changes with simple language like, “After our holiday song, we’ll wash hands and have lunch—just like we do every day.” These small but meaningful strategies help children feel grounded, even when the day looks a little different.
Connecting Learning from School to Home
Families can support children through holiday routine changes with a few intentional practices:
For Infants and Toddlers
- Maintain familiar sleep, feeding, and comfort routines when possible
- Offer predictable cues, like the same bedtime song or comfort item
- Provide extra connection during busy days
For Preschoolers
- Talk about schedule changes ahead of time
- Use simple visual calendars or verbal reminders
- Stick to key routines (bedtime, meals) even when days are busy
For All Ages
- Build in quiet time after social events
- Keep expectations flexible
- Remember that challenging behavior often follows a break in routine
Why This Matters
When children experience consistent routines, they develop trust, confidence, and self-regulation skills. Supporting them through changes—rather than avoiding change altogether—teaches children that they can adapt with the help of caring adults.
At Heartfelt Impressions, our teachers’ learning guides every decision in the classroom. During the holiday season, that learning helps us balance celebration with structure, ensuring children feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.
Thank you for partnering with us as we support children through every season—both in the classroom and at home.
Written by:
Brittany Kay
Director of Program Quality at Heartfelt Impressions
