The week before Christmas is full of excitement! But for toddlers and preschoolers, and even for us parents, that excitement can feel overwhelming. Busy days and changes in routine can lead to big emotions and extra communication challenges. So as we head into this last week before Christmas, let’s look at a few ways to keep a realistic Christmas week schedule. In a time where we know things will be busy and things must get done, it helps to have a plan that won’t make us crazy.
This is a time where sign language can be especially helpful. When children can express more, help, all done, or grumpy, they can feel calmer, more understood, and more connected.
When we set a gentle, realistic rhythm for Christmas week, we make a supportive plan for toddlers, preschoolers, and ourselves. Here are some ideas for keeping a realistic Christmas week schedule for our kids.
Keep the Anchors
During busy seasons, children thrive when at least a few parts of the day stay predictable. So things like regular wake-up routines, familiar meals, rest times, and consistent bedtimes give young children a sense of safety. When we have these daily anchors, it makes it easier to have some freedom and flexibility in the rest of the day.
Loosen the Schedule
When there are so many activities for us to do with our kids this week, let’s go easy on them and ourselves and try to keep it to one special activity a day. When we do this day after day, we’ll find that it is plenty. It also allows for plenty of downtime, which will help our kids process the excitement. It gives us parents a little bit of reset time too.
As we move through these daily routines and work through these high-energy moments, let’s remember to use slow, clear communication with our little ones. Again, signing can be really helpful in processing feelings with our kids this week.
A Gentle Daily Rhythm for Christmas Week
Early Morning
Hopefully you’ll be able to have some slow, cozy mornings to help set a calm tone for the day. It’s really great for our kids to be able to wake up with cuddles, enjoy a familiar breakfast, and ease into the day. They may enjoy choosing festive clothes or getting in some playtime before the day gets busy.
Mid-Morning
Mid-morning is a great time for some movement and exploration. Our kids can do some short outdoor play, play with bubbles, take a walk, or have fun with their toys, like a normal day. And then we could do a simple holiday activity like playing with holiday stickers, decorating a cookie, making an easy ornament, or reading a Christmas book. A small holiday activity can feel special without being overwhelming.
Lunch & Rest
This part of the day is especially important during our busy weeks. Toddlers feel more regulated when they eat familiar foods and nap at their usual times. And while our preschoolers may or may not nap, it’s still good to have a quiet rest time with books, audiobooks, or even some calm signing videos. This quiet time will allow their bodies and brains to reset for the rest of the day’s activities.
Afternoon
As we think about a realistic Christmas week schedule, let’s remember that afternoons can bring lower energy and shorter patience. So it’s a good time to avoid extra errands or commitments whenever possible. If we don’t have Christmas week activities in the afternoon, our afternoons can just follow our normal routines.
Evening
Predictable evenings help children get settled down after exciting days. Our little ones tend to do better with an early dinner, bath time, a regular bedtime routine, and some cuddles before bed. This might not be possible if you have evening activities during Christmas week. But even when we have busy nights, we can follow a familiar and maybe abbreviated rhythm for meals and bedtime. Consistency in the evening helps our kids end the day with calmness and security.
Remember to keep it simple
Simple moments often feel the most magical to young children. Toddlers may really enjoy looking at Christmas lights from the car, playing with wrapping paper, or listening to holiday music. Our preschoolers might enjoy baking one simple treat or watching a short holiday show. These small traditions are often what children remember most.
So let’s remember to let go of our expectations for perfect schedules, perfect naps, perfect behavior, or being able to do everything. Instead, let’s plan for a realistic Christmas week schedule with our little ones. When routines are gentle and communication is supported, children feel a sense of stability, and that helps us all have a joyful week.