The excitement of the holidays can cause considerable stress at home and school. Both children and adults feel the pressure of numerous events happening during and after school, and routines often get disrupted.
Student stress elevates during the holidays. Help keep students in the learning mode through some strategies.
- Involve students in creating schedules to keep the classroom stress-free. Schedules should include assignments because of out-of-school events. Don’t overschedule. Keep an even pace so students are not overwhelmed.
- A quiet space is needed in the classroom for students in stress mode. At-home events cause overstimulated students.
- Include time for listening to stories or quiet reading in your daily routine.
- Keep physical exercise in the daily schedule.
Holidays involve parent involvement, assemblies, meetings, parties, and many other classroom disruptions. Keep quiet time part of the daily routine.
Holiday Excitement and Equality
Stress in the classroom during the holiday season affects all students. Students have diverse needs that must be recognized. All students must be treated the same. They need support during the holiday season. They need a safe space to learn and grow. It’s essential to acknowledge the various cultural, economic, and social factors that impact a student’s family life. An understanding of other students and teachers builds empathy. Simple celebrations during the holiday for all students foster a culture of inclusion, understanding, and respect across diverse backgrounds. Diverse celebrations give students a chance to ask questions; thus, barriers among students break down.
It’s important to understand that not all holidays are important to everyone in the classroom, and not all are celebrated the same. Be sure to partner with parents for celebrations and for holiday breaks. Share ideas so learning continues at home.
Practice Mindfulness
To keep the holiday excitement and energy at a minimum in the classroom. Practice mindfulness activities.
- Breathing exercises can create calmness. Have students imagine they are trying to catch a raindrop, a snowflake, or a feather by breathing through the nose. Then blow it away through the mouth. Repeat the activity to achieve calmness.
- Coloring is calming and fun for all ages. Students can use crayons, markers, or pencils to color various store-bought designs. Students can create coloring designs that depict various holidays.
- Music soothes the savage beast. Soft music in the background keeps the classroom calm.
Many students struggle during the holidays. They may have financial difficulties, religious differences, loss of loved ones, and family conflicts. It’s important to ensure all students feel supported over the holiday season and all year long. Keep the classroom a safe and stress-free place for learning.
