Helping Kids (and Parents) Stay Regulated During the Holidays

The holidays bring up lots of different feelings for families. Parents and kids experience joy, peace, and happiness while celebrating together — and at the same time, many families notice more stress, chaos, and emotional overwhelm.

Changes in routine, overstimulation, and big feelings are all common during this season. If you’re feeling anxious about navigating the holidays while kids are off school, you’re not alone — and you’re not doing anything wrong.

Below are a few gentle, realistic tips to help your kids and yourself stay

regulated this holiday season.

Keep Some Structure to Your Days

Have you ever thought, “Finally — a few days where everyone is home. We can relax and just let the day flow.”And then a few hours later… everyone is fighting?

It can be tempting to strip away all routine during the holidays, but for many kids, that lack of structure actually creates more stress. Children thrive on consistency and predictability — routines help them feel safe and grounded.

This doesn’t mean you need a rigid schedule. Keeping even a few familiar anchors can make a big difference:

• Wake-up and bedtime routines

• Nap routines

• Regular meal times

Think about what feels realistic for your family. A loosely familiar structure helps kids know what to expect, which supports emotional regulation — especially during busy, high-energy days.

Avoid Overstimulation (for Kids and Adults)

Being home together during the holidays is a gift — and it can also be incredibly overstimulating. Overstimulation can come from any of the five senses, but noise and touch tend to be the biggest culprits.

Many parents reach the point of saying, “I’m touched out.” That’s a real signal, not a failure.

Try to notice when you or your kids are nearing overload. You might:

• Schedule quiet time or independent play each day

• Give everyone space to separate and reset

• Step away from a loud or busy environment before a meltdown hits

If a child is on the verge of losing it, remove them from the overstimulating space, offer a calm presence, and validate their experience. Let them know it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and need a break.

And yes — this applies to the grown-ups too. Big humans deserve regulation support just as much as little ones. 💛

Big Feelings Are Normal

With changes in routine and increased time together, big feelings are expected during the holidays. Joy, frustration, excitement, sadness — sometimes all in the same hour.

Remind yourself and your kids that having big feelings is okay. You can validate emotions while still holding boundaries. For example:

“It’s okay to feel mad when your brother takes your toy, but it’s not okay to hit. Let’s take a break from playing together for a few minutes.”

Pay attention to behaviors that signal emotional overload. These moments are often opportunities to:

• Redirect to a different activity

• Transition to something calming (cuddling, reading, quiet play)

• Offer connection through small tasks, like helping in the kitchen

If the holidays are feeling heavier than expected for your family, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Support can look like having a space to slow down, make sense of big feelings, and feel steadier together. At Nurturing Wellness, we’re here to meet families where they are — with care that honors both the hard moments and the hopeful ones.

A Gentle Reminder for the Season

The holidays come with all the normal ups and downs of everyday family life. The goal isn’t to get along perfectly — it’s to enjoy moments of connection when they happen.

Be kind to yourself. You’re doing the best you can in a busy, emotionally charged season.

I hope these tips help you and your family have a joy-filled — and more regulated — holiday.

If support would feel helpful right now, we’d love to connect.

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Meet Katie Bromberg

Early Childhood Therapy

Family Therapy

Parent Coaching