The holiday season is just around the corner, filled with traditions, joy-filled gatherings, sweet treats and a potential surge in stress for students and educators.
In schools, December often becomes a collection of disrupted routines and heightened emotions. Schedules practically disappear, fatigue sets in, and it can feel like a few pieces of Scotch tape are holding the school day together. Given all that, it’s prime time for Executive Function challenges – particularly emotional control – to take center stage, leading to visible dysregulation and unexpected behaviors.
This happens because disrupted routines drain our cognitive reserves – the mental energy needed to plan, focus and regulate our emotions.
For students, this can manifest as anxiety, frustration, withdrawal or outbursts. For teachers, managing these dynamics in addition to personal holiday festivities and commitments can be overwhelming. It is important to remember that behavior is communication, and during the run-up to winter break, it’s often communicating, “I’m overwhelmed! I need structure! I need help regulating!”
The key to navigating this high-stress, transitional time is proactively leveraging Executive Function strategies, focusing on emotional regulation. Here are three practical approaches to conserve cognitive energy, maintain consistency, and help teachers and students stay grounded.
Defend core routines
Maintaining some predictability in the school day offers a safety net. When everything else is in flux, cling to predictable anchors. The morning routine is arguably the most critical, as it sets the emotional and cognitive tone for the entire day.
For students, consistency is essential. Even if the morning work shifts to something holiday-themed, the structure and signals for transitions should remain familiar. This predictability lowers anxiety and conserves mental energy.
Teachers can apply this to their own morning. Protect your pre-school ritual – whether it’s 10 minutes of quiet and coffee, reviewing the day’s plan, or a quick mindfulness practice. For example, I like to start each day by filling my water bottle and checking my Google calendar before heading out to greet the students at morning drop-off. Your regulated state provides a stable model for students. While often out of your control, keep predictable start times for classes and core subjects wherever possible.
This works for emotional control because familiar routines reduce the cognitive load of constant decision-making and uncertainty. Knowing “what comes next” provides a profound sense of security.
Make time visible
December throws curveballs: assemblies, sing-alongs, early dismissals, pajama days. Even fun surprises and special events can be major triggers for students (and stressors for teachers). Visual supports are essential tools for managing these changes and reducing anxiety.
Visualizing time and schedule changes will externalize information, thereby easing the burden on working memory. Knowing what to expect and when to expect it significantly reduces the anxiety associated with the unknown, a major precursor to emotional dysregulation.
Consider keeping a large monthly calendar in the classroom to mark all special events, schedule changes and deadlines. A visual schedule that is updated every morning, highlighting any deviations from a typical day, allows everyone to prepare mentally.
Proactive pauses prevent meltdowns
When students’ cognitive and emotional reserves are depleted, small, frequent breaks for regulation are effective in helping to avoid complete meltdowns. These are simple opportunities for the brain to rest, refocus and regulate.
Integrate structured regulation breaks before challenging transitions or known stress points. These can be as simple as telling a few quick jokes, conducting breathing exercises, or engaging students in movement.
This is also key for educators. Remember to schedule your own micro-breaks, such as taking a short stretch at your desk or going for a quick walk. For me, I’ve always found making a quick visit to a class to observe amazing teaching and learning in action to be most helpful, allowing me to recharge and support students most effectively.
December demands grace – for our students and the educators guiding them. The goal isn’t rigid perfection, but instead managed equilibrium. By consciously prioritizing these Executive Function strategies focused on emotional control – defending routines, making time visible, and building in regulation breaks – we can create pockets of predictability amidst the holiday whirlwind.
Opinions expressed by SmartBrief contributors are their own.
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