The holiday season brings magic, warmth, and memory-making moments but it can also bring disrupted routines, big emotions, extra sugar, late nights, and unpredictable weather. For young children, these changes can make November and December feel overwhelming. At Centerville Child Development Center, we understand how much parents juggle this time of year, and we want to help you and your child not just survive, but truly thrive during the holiday season.
Here’s how to make the next two months easier on your family and smoother for your childcare team, too.
- Protect the Power of Routine (Even When Holidays Get Busy): Children rely on predictability to feel safe and regulated. But during the holiday season, routines get tossed around like wrapping paper—late-night events, visitors, shopping trips, traveling, and classroom parties all disrupt the normal rhythm. Predictability at home helps your child stay grounded at daycare, even when seasonal chaos increases.
What you can do:
-
-
- Keep wake-up and bedtime as consistent as possible.
- Offer predictable meals and snacks even on busy days.
- Maintain familiar morning routines before daycare.
- Prep your child ahead of any changes (“Tonight we’ll be out late, but tomorrow we will get back to our normal schedule.”).
-
- Dress Children for the Weather Even If It Feels Inconvenient: In November and December, weather changes quickly warm one day, icy cold the next. At Centerville Child Development Center, we go outside whenever it is safely possible, because outdoor play supports physical health, immunity, and emotional well-being. When children come prepared for changing weather, they can enjoy outdoor learning and caregivers can focus on helping them play not trying to find missing mittens.
How parents can help:
-
-
- Send coats, hats, waterproof gloves, and warm socks.
- Label every single item (things get lost faster during the holiday rush!).
- Provide backup clothing that matches the season (long sleeves, warm pants).
- Check sizes weekly—children grow quickly this time of year!
-
- Keep Sugar in Check (Especially on School Nights): Cookies, candy, parties, hot chocolate, marshmallows holiday sugar is everywhere. While treats are part of the joy of the season, extra sugar can cause mood swings, sleep disruptions, and overstimulation, making days at daycare more difficult. Instead of going sugar-free which isn’t realistic aim for balance. A steady diet means steadier emotions both at home and in childcare.
Helpful tips:
-
-
- Pair sugar with protein (cheese, nuts, yogurt, meat).
- Choose one planned treat per day rather than constant grazing.
- Avoid sugary snacks before bedtime.
- Send healthy, stable snacks to daycare to help regulate energy levels.
-
- Communicate With Your Daycare—We’re Your Partner in This Season: Behavior changes are common during the holidays. Tell your childcare provider about changes happening at home like late nights, new siblings, relatives visiting, special events, or anything that might be affecting your child’s behavior.
You may notice:
-
-
- bigger emotions
- refusal to get dressed
- trouble separating at drop-off
- more tears
- clinginess
- arguing
- difficulty with sharing or patience
-
At Centerville Child Development Center, we don’t judge these changes instead we expect them. Communication helps us support your child with extra patience, structure, and consistency. Even a quick message like: “Grandma is visiting, and bedtime was late last night. You might see some extra tiredness today,” helps tremendously.
- Build in Quiet Time to Offset Holiday Noise: Holiday activities often mean noise, crowds, lights, music, and excitement are all things young children love, but also things that easily overwhelm their nervous systems. Children need calm moments to reset. Children who get daily decompression time regulate better at daycare and home.
Try:
-
-
- a quiet car ride
- a simple story
- listening to calm music
- dimming lights in the evening
- having a no-screens hour before bedtime
-
- Expect Emotional Ups and Downs and Respond With Gray, Not Black-and-White Thinking: That’s a lot for a developing brain. When big feelings show up, respond with compassion and consistency.
During the holidays, young children feel:
-
-
- excitement
- overstimulation
- fatigue
- anticipation
- confusion
- joy
- disappointment
-
Try:
-
-
- “You’re tired from all the fun we’ve been having. I’m here to help.”
- “This season is busy. Let’s take a deep breath together.”
- “I see you’re overwhelmed. Let’s make a cozy spot.”
-
The more calm you remain, the more regulated your child becomes making daycare transitions much easier.
- Support Your Childcare Team for We Love Your Children, and the Holidays Are Busy for Us Too: Daycare teachers work incredibly hard during November and December. Between special crafts, holiday events, unpredictable weather, and children’s emotional ups and downs, this season stretches everyone. A strong partnership between parents and caregivers makes the season brighter for everyone.
Little things make a big difference:
-
-
- arriving on time
- sending needed supplies
- communicating schedule changes
- keeping sick children home
- expressing appreciation (even a quick note means the world!)
-
A Final Encouragement
The holidays can be magical but they can also be messy, unpredictable, and emotional, especially for young children. By protecting routines, preparing for weather, moderating sugar, building quiet moments, and partnering closely with your childcare team, you’ll help your child and your daycare have a smoother, happier November and December.
At Centerville Child Development Center, we’re honored to support your family during this special season. Together, we can make the holidays joyful, meaningful, and manageable for your child.