Why my therapy room stays undecorated at Christmas. "In my therapy room, Santa and Rudolph stay all year round".
Every December, I find myself feeling just a little overwhelmed. At the risk of sounding like a festive grinch… why do we cram so many extra events, gatherings, and expectations into one month? It’s already a season full of pressure, and for many people—children and adults—Christmas isn’t a joyful swell of celebration. It can feel more like a storm surge.
As someone who works with children, I’m very aware of how this season affects their nervous systems. And this is one of the big reasons I don’t decorate my therapy room for Christmas. Not because I don’t value the magic of the season—but because I want my space to feel like a calm, steady shoreline, especially when the wider school environment becomes a sensory tidal wave.
Christmas Feelings Arrive Like Waves
Living by the sea, I often think about emotions like the ocean. Some days the waves are gentle and glittering. Other days—like the grey, stormy sea I’m looking at now—they crash in with noise, force, and unpredictability. Christmas tends to amplify those emotional waves.
In my therapy room, Santa and Rudolph stay all year round.
That might seem unusual when most people pack Christmas away in January—but for some children, having these figures available whenever they need them is incredibly important.
For many, Christmas isn’t just a season.
It’s a story, a memory, a question, or sometimes a confusing mixture of feelings that doesn’t fit neatly into December.
For some children...
- The smells of Christmas baking
- The sound of carols
- The bright lights and glitter
- The talk of Santa, families, presents, parties …
- The pressure of a nativity, wondering if they will have a parent turn up?
...can trigger painful memories of past Christmas', experiences of loss, or times when home didn’t feel safe. For others, the excitement is mixed with anxiety—like standing in choppy water, unsure which wave will knock them over next. And for many adults, if we’re honest, it’s similar. Our bodies remember. Our senses remember. December can stir up the deep.
Christmas can bring big waves for little nervous systems. Keeping these symbols present all year round allows those waves to be explored gently, creatively, and at a pace that belongs entirely to the child
Children often use the sand tray to explore things they don’t yet have the words for—
- Why Christmas feels different in their house this year
- Why their family doesn’t look like their friend’s
- Why some memories sparkle and others sting
- Why excitement and fear can sit side by side
Schools Feel the Seasonal Swell Too
Schools often become festive whirlpools:
Nativities, Christmas fairs, parties, school trips, decorations, Christmas jumper days… it’s a lot.
For some children, this is joyous.
For others, it’s dysregulating.
The heightened emotions, disrupted routines and sensory overload can bring past traumas or worries right up to the surface, just like debris carried in on a powerful tide.
So how do we help children surf these waves rather than be swept away by them? Here are 10 trauma-informed, regulation-supportive tips to help children during the festive season:
10 Ways to Support Children Who Struggle With Christmas
1. Acknowledge that Christmas brings big feelings
Make space for worries.
Not every child is excited. Some feel scared, overwhelmed, or reminded of difficult memories. Like naming a wave before it hits, acknowledging feelings helps children feel safer.
2. A child talking non-stop about Christmas may be anxious—not excited
Repeated questions and constant chatter often signal uncertainty or fear. Their words can be like waves lapping repeatedly at the shore, asking for reassurance.
3. Share changes and events with parents early
Predictability is safety. When families know what’s coming, they can help prepare their child for disruptions or surprises.
4. Put seasonal events on visual timetables
If routines change, show it visually. It’s like giving a child a map of the tides—they feel steadier when they know what’s coming.
5. Keep as many routines the same as possible
Anchors matter. Even if the days are busy and unusual, consistent morning routines, break times, or end-of-day rituals help children regulate.
6. Increase support from the child’s key adults
Children who rely on their key adults will need them even more as the term gets long and the waves get higher.
7. Offer calm-down spaces and alternative activities
Expect overwhelmed nervous systems. Provide places to rest, regulate, and breathe. Not every child will manage the sensory flood of festive activities.
8. Be mindful with lights, music, and sensory overload
Disco lights, loud music, strong smells—these can overwhelm children with sensory differences or trauma histories. Keep stimulation gentle when possible.
9. Use portioned food for parties
Buffet-style spreads can trigger anxiety in children with food insecurity histories. Pre-portioned treats help them trust there is enough for everyone.
10. Support the transition into the holidays
Christmas sits right before the end of term—another transition many children find difficult. Prepare them, talk about it, and help ground them before they go home.