A Slow Christmas: Nurturing Wellbeing in the Early Years
As we step into the festive season, it's easy to get swept up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas celebrations. For early years educators, it can feel like a whirlwind of glitter, rehearsals, and creative activities. Yet, it’s crucial to remember that children - and educators - thrive in environments that prioritise mental health and wellbeing, especially during the holiday season.
This year, let’s embrace the concept of a “slow Christmas” in our settings, focusing on mindfulness, connection, and creativity. By rethinking traditional activities and placing an emphasis on the process rather than the product, we can create a calm and nurturing space for both children and adults.
The Beauty of Process Art
When it comes to Christmas crafts, it’s easy to get caught up in making picture-perfect decorations or hand-print Christmas cards. However, process art, where the focus is on the experience of creating rather than the final product, is a wonderful way to support children’s self-expression and autonomy. Process art is a child-led and open-ended approach to creating art where the focus is on the experience of creating, rather than the final outcome or product. It emphasises exploration, experimentation, and personal expression, allowing children to engage with materials and ideas in their own way. It also allows children to explore, create, and imagine in ways that are developmentally appropriate. The sensory experiences, freedom of choice, and hands-on nature of these activities can foster engagement and joy.
Try offering natural materials like clay, pine cones or fir cuttings alongside recycled objects, sequins and glitter! Encourage children to make their own Christmas decorations and cards, without a predetermined example they must copy. You’ll be amazed by the variety of unique ideas they bring to life - and the sense of pride they feel in their creations.
Sensory Play
A slow Christmas approach also lends itself well to sensory play. Seasonal sensory trays filled with cinnamon sticks, orange slices, or fir branches can be soothing and stimulate children’s senses. Warm, calming scents can help set the tone for a serene environment, especially for children who may feel overstimulated by the Christmas chaos. Remember, sensory play is valuable for emotional regulation, creativity, and language development.
Mindful Moments in Busy Times
Mindfulness is a powerful practice for supporting mental health, both for children and educators. Build in quiet, reflective moments during the day. This could mean sitting together for a moment of gratitude, using a calm jar to watch glitter settle, or sharing a simple breathing exercise to reset. For instance, try “candle breathing” - pretend to hold a candle, take a deep breath in, and blow out the imaginary flame slowly.
These gentle practices can help ground the children and offer you, as an educator, a much-needed pause as well.
Supporting Children with SEND
Supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) during the Christmas period involves creating a calm, inclusive, and predictable environment. The festive season can be overwhelming for many children, and thoughtful adjustments can make a big difference. Manage sensory overload by creating a calm corner where children can retreat if they feel overstimulated, and keep the daily routine as consistent as possible, use visual timetables, and advance warning for change.
Keeping the Season Calm and Joyful
Recent research highlights the importance of mental health and wellbeing in early years education and emotionally secure environments are crucial for children’s development. During Christmas, our goal should be to provide a balance between festive excitement and calm, stable routines.
This season, try to simplify wherever you can. Keep to familiar rhythms and minimise transitions where possible. Simplified nativity plays (if you need to perform one at all!) with smaller audiences or pre-recorded videos can be a great way to celebrate with families without adding undue stress to the children (or yourself).
Self-Care for Educators
Finally, don’t forget to take care of your own wellbeing. The festive season can be draining, especially in a busy early years setting. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Take moments to breathe, connect with colleagues, and reflect on what matters most.
A slow Christmas isn’t about stripping away the joy. It’s about finding a more meaningful, intentional way to celebrate, ensuring that both children and adults leave the season feeling enriched rather than exhausted.