How We Support Emotional Regulation During the Holidays at Love2Learn

At Love2Learn Early Learning Center, we know that winter brings more than chilly mornings and warm mittens—it also brings big feelings. Between holiday excitement, disrupted routines, overstimulation, and less time outdoors, it’s no wonder that toddlers and preschoolers sometimes act out, melt down, or suddenly become clingy.

This time of year is magical—but for young children, it can also feel overwhelming. That’s why we take extra care to support emotional regulation in our classrooms during the winter and holiday season. And with just a little awareness, you can help your child navigate this time of year with confidence, too.

What’s Really Going On: Why Emotions Run High in Winter

Emotional regulation is a developmental skill—not something toddlers are born knowing how to do. It takes years of co-regulation with supportive adults for children to learn how to name their emotions, respond instead of react, and bounce back after a disappointment.

In the winter months, children face several unique challenges:

• Changes in routine due to holidays, visitors, or travel
• Less outdoor time and fewer opportunities to burn off energy
• Overstimulation from lights, sounds, sugar, and crowded spaces
• Emotional contagion from stressed or busy adults
• Anticipation and uncertainty around gifts, parties, or guests

Even happy events can be hard to process! The result? More tantrums, clinginess, refusal to follow directions, or sleep disruptions.

How We Support Emotional Regulation at Love2Learn

We don’t expect children to “be good” during the holidays—we expect them to need extra support, and we meet that need with love, patience, and practical tools.

Here are some of the ways we help:

Predictable Routines = Emotional Security

We keep our daily schedule as consistent as possible. Children feel safest when they know what’s coming next, even in a season of surprises. If we’re doing something special, we prepare them with visuals and clear language.

Calm Corners & Cozy Spaces

Every classroom has a space where children can go when they feel overwhelmed—a small nook with soft pillows, books, or sensory tools. These areas aren’t punishment—they’re invitations to self-regulate.

Name It to Tame It

We model how to talk about feelings and help children build a vocabulary around emotions. Instead of “stop crying,” you might hear us say, “You’re sad because we had to stop playing. That’s hard.”

Movement & Outdoor Play (Even in the Cold!)

Children need to move their bodies to regulate their brains. We bundle up and go outside when weather allows. Indoors, we incorporate gross motor breaks, yoga, dancing, and sensory play.

Intentional Calm Activities

During December, we incorporate more slow-paced, soothing moments—like candle-free “lights out” story time, simple crafts, and soft music to help children wind down.

What You Can Do at Home

You don’t have to be a teacher or therapist to help your child navigate winter emotions. Try these simple strategies:

• Keep bedtime and meals as consistent as possible, even during busy weeks
• Limit overwhelming environments (like long shopping trips or loud parties)
• Validate feelings instead of dismissing them—“You’re upset we can’t go outside. That makes sense.”
• Offer simple choices to give a sense of control—“Red or green mittens?”
• Model regulation—when you’re frustrated, narrate what you’re doing: “I feel stressed, so I’m going to take three deep breaths.”

When children see the adults around them managing emotions in healthy ways, they learn to do the same.

It’s Okay to Feel Big Feelings

We remind our students (and their parents): It’s okay to be excited. It’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to be tired of the holidays.

All feelings are valid. What matters is that children feel safe, supported, and loved as they move through them.

At Love2Learn, emotional intelligence is just as important to us as academic skills. We want your child to grow up not only school-ready, but also resilient, self-aware, and confident.

Want a Preschool That Supports the Whole Child?

Love2Learn offers a warm, structured, and nurturing environment designed for toddlers and preschoolers to thrive—emotionally, socially, and academically.

Mechanicsburg, PA
Call (717) 553-0000
Now enrolling ages 2 and up | Child Care Works subsidy accepted

References & Further Reading

• Zero to Three. (2021). Understanding and Managing Big Feelings in Toddlers and Preschoolers. https://www.zerotothree.org
• Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2011). Building the Brain’s “Air Traffic Control” System. https://developingchild.harvard.edu
• NAEYC. (2019). Supporting Emotional Development in Preschool. https://www.naeyc.org
• Siegel, D. J., & Bryson, T. P. (2011). The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind. Delacorte Press.
• American Academy of Pediatrics. (2020). Helping Children Cope With Holiday Stress. https://healthychildren.org