The holidays may be described as “the most wonderful time of the year,” but for many families, they can also feel like a high-stakes emotional obstacle course. Between sugar-fueled kids, packed schedules, disrupted routines, and the pressure to make every moment magical, the season can quickly become overwhelming.
If your family’s holiday experience sometimes looks less like a picturesque movie and more like a slightly chaotic blooper reel, you’re not alone. The good news? With connection, compassion, and a few grounding routines, your family can move through the holiday season in a way that feels more meaningful, and far less stressful.
Start with Compassion (For yourself, too)
Before diving into traditions or to-do lists, take a moment to practice compassion toward yourself. The holidays naturally ask us to juggle more than usual, and it’s completely okay if the gingerbread house collapses or the Elf on the Shelf forgets to move for the third night in a row.
Self-compassion eases tension and creates the emotional space needed for genuine connection. When caregivers show themselves kindness, kids feel that warmth too. This helps the whole household breathe a little easier.
Routines & Rituals: The Heartbeat of Holiday Stability
Children thrive when their world feels predictable, especially during a season when routines often get tossed aside like wrapping paper. You don’t need a strict schedule; instead, think of routines as soft landing spots that help kids stay regulated and grounded.
Holiday routine ideas include:
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Protect the basics: Sleep, meals, and downtime are the holy trinity of holiday stability.
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Use micro-rituals: A nightly 2-minute gratitude share, lighting a candle at dinner, or reading a seasonal book together can anchor the whole family.
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Support gentle transitions: Narrate what comes next (“After we bake cookies, we’ll clean up, then watch a movie”). Predictability reduces stress for everyone.
Rituals give the brain a comforting sense of rhythm, like emotional muscle memory that says we know how to do this.
Mind, Body, Spirit: A Whole-Person Approach to Holiday Wellness
The RISE framework’s enhancements remind us to support the whole child, and honestly, the whole adult too. The holidays affect mind, body, and spirit, making this a great time to lean into whole-person wellbeing.
Mind
Create space for emotional check-ins. Holidays aren’t automatically joyful for everyone, including kids. Use open-ended questions like:
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“What are you feeling about this week?”
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“What would make today feel easier for you?”
Listening without trying to fix everything strengthens trust, regulation, and connection.
Body
Holiday sensory overload is real. Tune into physical cues and support the body’s needs:
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Offer movement breaks: even a dance party by the tree counts.
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Encourage cozy comfort: soft blankets, warm drinks, quiet corners.
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Honor the need for rest. Even the busiest elves need downtime.
Spirit
Spirit isn’t necessarily religious. It’s about meaning, grounding, and belonging. Encourage your family to explore:
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“What matters most to us this season?”
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“Which traditions still feel good, and which can we let go?”
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“How do we want to show kindness together?”
These conversations help families release unrealistic expectations and center what truly matters. The goal isn’t a perfect holiday; it’s a connected one.
Connection Over Perfection
If you carry one message into the holidays, let it be this: Kids remember how the season felt, not how perfect the cookies looked. When things get bumpy, which they will, humor and compassion can help everyone reset. A warm hug, a shared laugh, or a quiet moment together can be far more meaningful than any picture-perfect holiday event.
Creating a Meaningful Holiday Season
This year, let your family be human. Build in space for rest, wonder, imperfection, and connection. With a foundation of routines, rituals, and whole-person care, the holidays can become not just survivable, but genuinely meaningful—filled with moments your family will carry well beyond the season.