The holidays are a time of joy, but also a time of excess stimulation, activities and commitments. As daycare educators, you can help ensure that children are able to enjoy the excitement without becoming disregulated. With a focus on implementing simple actions through predictability, calming corners, sleep/naps, and communication with parents, daycares play a big role in helping little ones with their emotions. These can all can go a long way in helping keep little ones feeling happy, secure, and regulated. It’s also the perfect time to add a few extra little elements or activities to your daily fun – ones that help promote calm and peace. Check out these fun emotional regulation holiday activities for daycare.
Holiday Calm Jar
You’ll need: Clear plastic bottle with tight lid, warm water, glitter or sequins, liquid glue or tape.
Set-up: Fill bottle 3/4 with warm water, add glitter or sequins, seal lid strongly. Fireflies and Mudpies has a great post on how to make a DIY glitter jar.
How to use with children:
1. Invite the child to shake the jar.
2. Watch the glitter fall together while breathing slowly. You can relate this back to emotional regulation by saying “Our bodies slow down like the glitter.”
Regulation focus: Visual focus + slow breathing support calmness.
Snowy Breathing
You’ll need: Cotton balls for pretend snow.
Set-up: Place cotton balls on table or use hands.
How to use with children:
1. Ask children to take a deep breath in through the nose.
2. Blow slowly to move the “snow.”
3. Alternate slow snow and fast wind.
Regulation focus: Breathwork calms the nervous system.
Warm & Cozy Corner
You’ll need: Soft pillows, blanket, books, fidgets.
Set-up: Create a quiet, soft corner away from noise. Check out our blog post on engaging spaces and calming corners for more tips.
How to use with children:
1. Introduce the calming space to children when they are calm. Let them know “this is a place to rest your body.” This way they know where to go when they are feeling overwhelmed.
2. Offer, don’t force the space. They want to ideally choose to go here on their own.
3. Check in gently while co-regulating.
Regulation focus: Safe retreat for emotional and sensory reset.
Holiday Sensory Path
You’ll need: Tape and paper shapes (snowflakes, stars).
Set-up: Create a path with actions (jump, tiptoe, hop).
How to use with children:
1. Walk through the path slowly at first.
2. Send small groups through one at a time.
3. End with a cool-down stretch.
Regulation focus: Movement releases energy and organizes the body.
Winter Story Yoga
You’ll need: Winter-themed storybook and open space.
Set-up: Clear space and choose an imagery-filled story.
How to use with children:
1. Read the story slowly, adding simple stretching poses.
2. Move like snow, trees, and animals.
3. End with 3–5 deep breaths lying down.
Regulation focus: Combines imagination, movement, and breath.
Holiday Emotion Cards
You’ll need: Characters showing emotions (i.e. excited elf, calm polar bear). You can use our free emotion cards as inspiration.
Set-up: Place the cards in a basket or on ring. Keep them in the calming space.
How to use with children:
1. Explore the cards together during circle time.
2. Invite children to identify their feeling.
3. Pair the feeling with a chosen calming tool.
Regulation focus: Helps children name emotions + choose supports.
Peppermint Playdough Push
You’ll need: Playdough, optional peppermint scent (i.e. essential oil)
Set-up: Prep small dough balls on trays. Add elements such as cookie cutters, mini rolling pins, and objects for open-ended play.
How to use with children:
1. Squeeze, roll, and press the dough together. Make shapes or scenes.
2. Model slow breathing while pushing palms.
Regulation focus: Deep pressure input calms the nervous system.
Holiday Rhythm Time
You’ll need: Drums, shakers, rhythm sticks, or other musical elements.
Set-up: Sit in a simple circle with one instrument each.
How to use with children:
1. Start with a slow, steady beat.
2. Explore loud/quiet, and then fast/slow.
3. Return to a soft, slow beat.
Regulation focus: Predictable rhythm organizes the brain.
Light & Sound Breaks
You’ll need: Soft music or nature sounds.
Set-up: Dim lights if safe.
How to use with children:
1. Invite children to lie or sit quietly.
2. Guide 3–5 slow breaths.
3. Slowly transition back to activity.
Regulation focus: Reduces sensory overload to reset the nervous system.
Kindness Countdown
You’ll need: Paper chain or a chart with simple acts.
Set-up: Prepare 10–20 small kindness tasks.
How to use with children:
1. Read the day’s kindness goal together.
2. Notice and name kindness moments.
Regulation focus: Connection stabilizes emotions.
Predictable Picture Schedule
You’ll need: Picture icons for your daily routine.
Set-up: Display at the children’s height.
How to use with children:
1. Review the schedule each morning.
2. Show current and next steps during transitions.
3. Update changes with visuals.
Regulation focus: Predictability reduces anxiety.
