The holiday season is often filled with joy, excitement, and lots of family time—but it can also throw our routines completely out of whack. Travel, late nights, new environments, and family gatherings can all disrupt your child’s sense of stability, leading to stress and overwhelm. As parents, it’s tough to find a balance between enjoying the holidays and maintaining a sense of routine that keeps your little one grounded. But don’t worry! We’ve got some advice straight from a mental health therapist to help your child stay in rhythm this holiday season.

1. Stick to a Routine as Much as Possible

The holidays often mean late nights, changes in meal times, and spontaneous activities—but one thing that can help your child stay regulated is keeping their sleep schedule as consistent as possible. This might mean adjusting bedtimes a little if you’re traveling or attending late-night events, but try to keep wake-up times and bedtimes close to their usual routine.

Consistency in daily activities, like eating at similar times or having quiet time before bed, can also be a great way to anchor your child’s day. Even if the environment feels chaotic, maintaining a semblance of routine will give them a sense of predictability.

Holiday gatherings can be both fun and overwhelming—especially for younger kids or those who may have social anxiety. Many kids struggle with unfamiliar faces, new environments, or the sensory overload of larger crowds. Preparing them ahead of time can make a big difference.

Practice conversations, or talk through what they might expect at a family dinner or gathering. If they’re likely to be asked questions like, “How’s school going?” or “What’s your favorite gift this year?”, you can practice these responses to ease their nerves. Let your child know that it’s okay to take a break if they’re feeling overwhelmed. Encourage them to check in with their bodies, too—are they feeling anxious or stressed? If so, remind them that it’s okay to step away, take a breath, or find a quiet corner to reset.

While the holiday season is filled with social activities, don’t forget about the importance of downtime. Your child will need some space to recharge, especially if they’ve been around a lot of people or participating in busy activities. Make sure they’re getting enough sleep, and encourage naps or quiet time when needed.

If there’s been a lot of social stimulation, you might want to opt for a low-key family activity, like a cozy movie night at home. This gives everyone a chance to unwind and reconnect in a calm environment.

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the season and want to do it all. But remember, your child is still a child—and they may not be able to handle the same level of holiday activities as an adult. Be realistic about what your child can manage, and communicate expectations ahead of time.

If you know there’s a big family event or travel ahead, have a conversation with your child about what to expect. Let them know what’s coming up, and explain that there might be some busy or noisy moments, but that they can take breaks if they need to. Setting expectations helps manage any surprises and creates a sense of security.

5. Model Gratitude and Encourage Connection

The holidays are a time of giving thanks and reflecting on what we’re grateful for. By modeling gratitude, you not only teach your child about thankfulness, but you also help them focus on the positive aspects of the season.

Make it a family tradition to share something you’re thankful for each day, whether it’s around the dinner table or before bed. Encourage your child to participate, and let them see how gratitude can help reframe difficult moments.

With all the busyness of the holidays, it’s easy to overlook the simple joys of play. But spending time connecting with your child through board games, playtime, or creative activities is one of the best ways to keep them feeling secure and grounded.

Whether it’s a game of charades, a puzzle, or even just playing pretend, make room for those small, meaningful moments of connection. It doesn’t have to be fancy—just a chance for you to engage with your child and give them your undivided attention.

In Conclusion: Finding the Holiday Rhythm Together

The holidays are a time of joy, but they can also be overwhelming for kids (and adults!). By maintaining some key routines, managing expectations, and prioritizing connection, you can help your child stay in rhythm during this busy time of year. And remember, it’s okay if things don’t always go as planned—sometimes, the best moments are the ones that happen unexpectedly. With a little preparation and flexibility, you’ll be able to navigate the season together with a sense of peace and joy.

Looking for the perfect holiday gift to support your child’s development and well-being?

, where we’ve rounded up the best toy recommendations from our therapists to make your holiday shopping a little easier. 

Wishing you and your family a holiday season full of love and laughter! 

How to Help Your Child Stay in Rhythm During the Holidays: Tips from a Mental Health Therapist

The start of a new school year can be a mix of excitement and anxiety for children. As a pediatric mental health therapist, I understand the importance of strong parent-child bonds in supporting children's emotional well-being during this transitional period.

Creating a supportive home environment is crucial for children's mental health. Here are some strategies to foster a strong connection with your child:

Back to School: Fostering a Connection With Your Child

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with a mental health condition at some point during their life. A large majority by the young age of 14.

As Licensed Mental Health professionals, we are seeing the numbers of those diagnosed with a mental health condition or even seeing signs rise in our children, youth, adolescents, and teenagers, especially following the unprecedented events of Covid. The reality is: life is hard, it is challenging, and we are not meant to do it alone. We all need a support system. We need access to helpful resources and reliable professionals to navigate our mental health journeys.

There are numerous resources out there that can help to minimize the severity of a mental health condition(s), including that of individual and family/group counseling sessions. We must work hard to ensure that these resources are easily found, known and that we are supporting one another.

, we can help to break the stigma that follows Mental Health. Mental Health is just as important as our Physical Health. Just like experiencing a physical illness that might be more apparent or obvious, being able to identify and treat mental health conditions earlier on can prevent something more serious from developing.

Some of the more or less “common” mental health conditions or experiences warranting professional support:

Knowing the “warning signs” to watch for:

Mental Health Therapy visits focus on providing encouragement and support in order to create a more balanced, loving, and overall successful home life. By working with both the child and the family using proven psychological methods, Mental Health Therapy can help manage and even eliminate a variety of mental illnesses and emotional difficulties.

Our goal is to provide parents with the confidence and best possible resources available to understand, manage, and prioritize their family's mental health.

 through both individual and family counseling sessions. A referral is not required for this discipline, and we work with many 

insurance providers, including Kentucky Medicaid

. Our clinicians are knowledgeable about clinical excellence in all disciplines.

Mental Health Matters! 

Finding balance behind a screen. Why it's important and ways that we all play a part.

It's no secret that electronics have become a significant part of EACH of our everyday lives. Due to the fact that we are constantly surrounded by technology, whether that be in our homes, at work, or out and about, it's been rather hard to avoid screens. 

 during the Pandemic, the average usage of screen time in children increased anywhere from 2-4 hours in length. Data indicates that the usage of TV and cell phone equates to an unhealthy amount of up to SEVEN hours spent in front of the screen for "play", which does not include time at school or for the purpose of education. Ultimately, the time spent behind a screen takes away the time that is necessary to spend being active. 

It is suggested that children partake in a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity EACH and every day to lessen the risk of 

Other effects of too much screen time may include or be directly linked to:

While usage of screen time in this day and age is rather inevitable, moderation is absolutely key. Avoiding screen time nearly entirely is suggested by healthcare professionals for children that are under the age of two. After the age of two, it is recommended to keep screen time to two hours or less per day. Some ways you can limit screen time is to avoid screens when getting ready for school, at the dinner table while eating, when doing homework if it's not necessary, or right before bedtime. 

When keeping screen time in moderation, a child can best learn things such as letters, shapes, colors, and numbers, explore their interests and build communication skills. A few ways that parents or guardians can ensure that screen time is beneficial or engaging can be done by: 

To speak with one of our expert clinicians, contact us today!

Screen Time for Kids: Finding Balance 

The holiday season can be especially challenging if you’re dealing with circumstances that might trigger emotions of sadness, depression, anxiety, uncertainty, or loneliness, to name a few.

Being able to prioritize your mental health and realizing that everyone grieves differently is one of THE most important things you can do during the hustle and bustle that this time of the year can bring about.

Our team of professional Mental Health experts has rounded up some ways to help cope with the heaviness of losing someone.

We hope that you find these practices to be helpful for you and your family this holiday season

At-home activities to keep your mind occupied, reflect, and maybe make new memories and traditions:

Red flag/warning signs to be on the lookout for which might indicate that professional help might be needed:

Mental Health Therapy visits focus at Marshall focus on providing encouragement and support in order to create a more balanced, loving, and overall successful home life. By working with both the child and the family using proven psychological methods, Mental Health Therapy can help manage and even eliminate a variety of mental illnesses and emotional difficulties.

https://marshallpediatrictherapy.com/services/mental-health-therapy

How do we address Mental Health at Marshall Pediatric Therapy:

Children might benefit from receiving Mental Health Therapy even without a diagnosed medical condition. Children who exhibit feelings of worthlessness that lead to depression or anxiety, have difficulty paying attention, and often show signs of physical complaints such as fatigue and withdrawal from social activities may require Mental Health Therapy. At Marshall Pediatric Therapy, we offer sessions individually or as a family if necessary. Receiving Mental Health Therapy does not require a referral. For a list of current insurance coverage and providers, you may reference:

https://marshallpediatrictherapy.com/billing-and-insurance

For a list of helpful links that could help support specific Mental Health Therapy: 

https://marshallpediatrictherapy.com/helpful-links