Holiday Adaptions in School
by Melinda Eriksen- Highly Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Whether your family celebrates Christmas or not, children generally cannot escape the Christmas season in a UK school.
The festive season can be overwhelming for children and their families due to changes in routine, sensory overload, and changing social expectations.
Classrooms often undergo transformations with holiday decorations, which can feel disorienting to children who are used to familiar surroundings.
The lead-up to the school break and the lack of structure during the holidays can create anticipatory anxiety.
Without proper accommodations and understanding, these challenges can make the festive period more stressful than enjoyable. Proactive planning, communication, and support can make a significant difference.
Here are some tips to help manage this period, especially in a school setting:
COMMUNICATE WITH THE SCHOOL
Teachers and peers may not understand the child’s need for predictability or sensory accommodations, leading to misunderstandings.
Expectations to "join in the fun" without adjustments for individual needs can make the child feel isolated or misunderstood.
What can you do?
Plan Ahead: Talk to your child’s teacher or support staff about upcoming events like concerts, parties, or dress-up days. Request a detailed schedule.
Share Strategies: Share what works best for your child, such as specific sensory aids or coping techniques.
Opt-Out Options: Ensure there's an option for your child to step away or not participate in activities that may be too stressful.
PREPARE YOUR CHILD
Around the festive period, the school day often includes Disruption of Routine, Unpredictable Changes, Inconsistent Schedules, Reduced Structure.
Christmas-themed activities, assemblies, or rehearsals that replace regular lessons, which can feel unsettling for children who rely on routine for stability. Events like dress-up days, parties, or holiday concerts may happen sporadically, making the school day less predictable.
Free periods or unstructured time for festive activities can cause confusion or stress for children who thrive on clear instructions.
What can you do?
Visual Schedule: Create a calendar or visual schedule that shows upcoming Christmas events to help them anticipate changes.
Social Stories: Use social stories to explain what will happen during events like Christmas parties or performances.
Practice: If your child wants to participate, rehearse any unfamiliar activities, like wearing a costume or attending a school assembly.
SENSORY OVERLOAD
Schools may become noisier with Christmas songs, rehearsals, and excited chatter, which can be overwhelming for children with sensory sensitivities. Christmas lights, tinsel, and other decorations can be visually overstimulating. Activities like fairs, performances, or classroom parties often mean crowded rooms, which can feel overwhelming and claustrophobic. Scented decorations, Christmas foods, or candles can trigger sensory discomfort.
Many traditional Christmas activities (e.g., loud carol singing, glittery crafts, chaotic games) are not designed with sensory sensitivities in mind, leaving some children feeling excluded or overwhelmed.
What can you do?
Quiet Zones: Ask the school to provide a quiet, sensory-friendly space your child can use if overwhelmed.
Headphones or Earplugs: Equip your child with noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs if loud music or sounds are expected.
Comfort Items: Allow your child to bring a comforting object, like a favourite toy or blanket.
CHANGING ROUTINES
The cumulative effect of sensory challenges, social pressures, and disrupted routines can be exhausting. The heightened excitement in the air can make it harder for some children to regulate emotions, leading to meltdowns or shutdowns.
What can you do?
Daily Routine: Maintain as much of your child’s regular routine as possible, even during festive activities.
Preview Changes: Notify your child of changes in advance and explain them simply and calmly.
Countdown: Use a countdown to Christmas break to help them understand when routines will shift back.
ADVOCATE FOR ADAPTATIONS
Sensory-Friendly Events: Ask if events like concerts or fairs can include sensory-friendly options like a quiet space.
Flexible Participation: Suggest modifications, such as allowing your child to participate for only part of the event or in a smaller group.
Alternative Tasks: Request quieter tasks or alternate activities if an event might be too much for your child.
SOCIAL CHALLENGES
Group activities like carolling, parties, or secret gift exchanges may require more social interaction than usual, which can be tiring or confusing.
Festive traditions may involve implicit rules (e.g., how to act during a play or what to say when receiving a gift), which may be hard for some children to interpret.
There may be pressure to participate in activities they find uncomfortable, like wearing costumes or engaging in group games.
Holiday performances may demand skills like public speaking, singing, or acting, which can cause significant stress for children who dislike being in the spotlight.
The repetitive practice leading up to a performance can be tiring and frustrating, especially if expectations aren’t clear.
Support Emotional Well-being by
Validate Feelings: Acknowledge your child’s feelings if they are anxious or upset.
Plan Breaks: Build in downtime after school to decompress.
Reward System: Use positive reinforcement for navigating potentially stressful events.
Collaborate with Other Families
Buddy System: Pair your child with a trusted peer during group activities for added support.
Parent Groups: Connect with other families for shared tips or suggestions that have worked in similar situations.
Celebrate in Your Own Way
Choose Activities Wisely: Focus on the parts of Christmas your child enjoys most, whether that’s crafts, a specific movie, or decorating.
Simplify Traditions: Modify or skip traditions that are overly stressful or chaotic.
By planning, advocating, and staying flexible, you can create a more positive and manageable Christmas experience for your child during the school season.