By: Angela Paschal, founder of My Little Heart Co
December arrives like a snowflake: beautiful, exciting, and full of possibility. But it also brings some of the highest emotional energy of the year. Schedules shift, excitement rises, routines feel loose, and children absorb every ounce of holiday stimulation swirling around them.
The truth is:
Early December doesn’t need more activities. It needs more gentle structure.
This week is the perfect time to slow things down, breathe, and create a soft, steady transition into the month. Think of this as the “emotional landing pad” your students need before winter excitement peaks.
Whether you feel caught up, behind, or somewhere in between here are four meaningful, simple SEL routines you can begin this week to support a peaceful, connected December in your classroom.
❄️ Why December Needs a Softer Start
The weeks leading into winter break are magical, but also emotionally intense. Young children experience:
✨ increased excitement
✨ sensory overload
✨ disrupted routines
✨ fatigue from shorter daylight
✨ unpredictable events
✨ more social expectations
Their little nervous systems work overtime trying to process the rush and novelty of the season.
This is why the first week of December should feel soft, steady, and grounding, not busy or rushed.
Your gentle routines act like a warm mitten around their emotions: comforting, consistent, and protective.
✨ Routine 1: Winter Morning Check-Ins
“Begin with the heart before you begin with the day.”
A December must have.
Even the calmest mornings feel different this month. Children may walk in:
• tired
• overstimulated
• excited
• dysregulated
• anxious
• clingy
• unsure
• overloaded
A simple emotion check-in helps them release what they’re holding, reconnect with you, and begin with clarity.
Try These Winter Check-In Options
❄️ Snowflake emotions (“sparkly excited,” “frosty sad,” “melting tired,” “icy unsure”)
🐻 Lumi Bear face cards (“cozy,” “worried,” “silly,” “calm”)
✨ Pom-pom check-in (“Pick a color for your heart today”)
💬 A verbal prompt (“Show me your morning feeling with your fingers — 1, 2, or 3”)
Teacher Script:
“Thanks for showing me how your heart feels this morning. All feelings are welcome here.”
Why It Works:
Emotional labeling reduces overwhelm and helps children settle faster, especially in winter when feelings come in big bundles.
❄️ Routine 2: A Gentle December Visual Schedule
Predictability is the safest gift you can give a child in December.
This week, update or refresh your visual schedule using winter themed icons or your Little Heart characters.
In December, even small changes in routine feel BIG to young children.
That’s why visual predictability becomes essential.
Include These Visuals:
✨ morning meeting
❄️ centers
✨ special events
❄️ calm corner
✨ outdoor play / indoor play
❄️ storytime
✨ snack & restroom
❄️ going home
Shift the Tone of Your Schedule:
Use soft winter silhouettes, light blue backgrounds, or Lumi Bear icons to create a calm, cozy feel.
Teacher Script:
“Today looks like this… and if something changes, I’ll show you.”
Why It Works:
Visuals reduce anxiety, prevent behavior spirals, and give children emotional safety, especially when December gets unpredictable.
✨ Routine 3: Winter Breathing Rituals
“Small breaths make big feelings feel smaller.”
A gentle breathing break 2–3 times a day is one of the best tools you can give your class this week.
Try These Winter-Themed Breaths:
❄️ Snowflake Breaths:
Watch a pretend snowflake fall from your fingers as you exhale.
☕ Hot Cocoa Breaths:
Inhale to “smell the cocoa.”
Exhale to “cool it down.”
🌬️ Winter Wind Breaths:
Inhale… exhale with soft, quiet wind noises.
⛄ Snowball Squeeze Breaths:
Hold a cotton ball or “snowball,” squeezing gently as you breathe.
Teacher Script:
“Let’s help our bodies feel cozy again.”
Why It Works:
Breathing lowers cortisol, supports self-regulation, and resets emotional energy — crucial during the December excitement wave.
❄️ Routine 4: A Cozy December Closing Circle
End the day the way you want the whole month to feel.
Use the last 3–5 minutes of every day to create a gentle, reflective classroom ritual.
Try This Simple Structure:
- Notice a feeling
“Today my heart felt ___.” - Name a class kindness
“I saw kindness when…” - Affirm the group
“Our classroom is a place where hearts grow.” - Use a winter affirmation
❄️ “I am calm.”
❄️ “I am safe.”
❄️ “I am kind.”
❄️ “I belong here.”
This sends children home with emotional grounding.
Character Tie-In:
“Percy the Penguin loves sharing one feeling at the end of his day — what’s yours?”
Why It Works:
Reflection closes out emotional loops, helping children leave school with calm bodies and full hearts.
❄️ A Sample “Gentle December” Schedule for This Week
Morning:
• Winter greeting choice
• Snowflake emotion check-in
• Breath of the day
Midday:
• Soft transition songs
• Calm visuals
• Limited sensory overload
Afternoon:
• Storytime with SEL questions
• Snowflake yoga or stretching
• Quiet sensory activity (playdough, cotton balls, tracing)
End of Day:
• Closing circle
• Kindness recap
• Cozy affirmation
• Slow, calm dismissal
This rhythm builds emotional safety before holiday intensity increases.
❄️ What to Avoid This Week (To Protect Classroom Calm)
To make December smoother, avoid these common pitfalls:
🚫 introducing too many new routines
🚫 rushing through transitions
🚫 changing centers every day
🚫 adding loud music frequently
🚫 overpacking the schedule
🚫 pushing unfinished crafts
🚫 ignoring emotional cues
The goal is not “more” the goal is “steady.”
Let the first week of December be soft, slow, and confidence building.
✨ A Gentle Reminder for Teachers
You don’t need to have everything ready.
You don’t need to decorate perfectly.
You don’t need to do every holiday activity floating around Pinterest.
Your students don’t need perfection…
they need you.
Your warmth.
Your tone.
Your steady presence.
Your ability to hold big feelings with grace.
That’s the real December magic.
Lumi Bear would give you the softest winter hug for all you do. 🤍❄️
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My Little Hearts Co. 
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