Ask the parenting pros

“Help! My Kid Is Melting Down More Than Usual This Month.”

Between the twinkly lights and endless festivities, December has a sneaky side: it completely rewrites kids’ routines. Bedtimes shift. Schedules blur. Sensory input spikes. And while adults get stressed, kids get disoriented, which often looks like clinginess, tears, resistance, or sudden bursts of: Nope. According to child psychologists, these seasonal meltdowns aren’t misbehavior. They’re a sign your child’s nervous system is overwhelmed and needs help recalibrating. The good news? Small, consistent strategies can make a big difference. Here’s how to bring things back to calm.

Action Plan:

Calming Holiday Chaos

Predictability is power

Kids feel safer when they know what’s coming next. In a month with shifting routines, anchor the day with one predictable ritual: a morning cuddle, a 10-minute bedtime story, a daily walk. Tiny consistencies rebuild their sense of control.

Name what they’re feeling

When kids are overwhelmed, understanding the feeling can be regulating in itself.

Try: “It feels like a big day. Are you feeling buzzy? Tired? Too excited?” Naming emotions helps kids separate themselves from the meltdown and regain confidence.

Create a “quiet corner” for breaks

Holiday events can be noisy, crowded, and over-stimulating. At home, set up a cozy spot with pillows, books, or fidget toys where they can reset. At gatherings, show them where they can step away. Breaks are not “giving in”—they’re teaching boundaries.

Lower the bar (really)

Kids don’t need to participate in every activity, stay out late, or be endlessly cheerful. If schedules pile up, choose the events your child will genuinely enjoy and skip the rest. Less pressure = fewer meltdowns = more confidence. (And a happier you).

Hold your calm

Kids co-regulate with the adults around them. If you stay steady—slow breaths, soft tone—they feel steadier, too. Your calm is the anchor they return to when the world feels loud.

Above all, remember this:

Your child isn’t “acting out.” They’re asking for help navigating a month that even adults find overwhelming. When we respond with connection, softness, and simple structure, we teach kids that big feelings are safe—and that they are safe, too.