The two or three weeks before winter break are when most childcare programs are tempted to add more energy — extra activities, more decorations, themed days. The kids who are about to be exhausted by the season don’t need more energy. They need quieter, deeper curriculum.
Here’s what to try.
Curriculum does not have to be expensive to be meaningful. NAEYC developmentally appropriate practice guidance emphasizes intentional teaching, developmentally appropriate practice, and learning experiences that fit young children’s needs.
Busy classroom seasons still need healthy routines. The CDC early care and education health guidance highlights infection prevention, handwashing, cleaning, and other health practices for early care and education settings.
Lean into one project, deeply. Pick one curriculum focus and let it carry the weeks. A class book the kids are writing. A long art project building toward a finished piece. A pretend bakery the dramatic play area becomes for two weeks. Depth beats variety in this season.
Bring back favorite books. The books the kids loved earlier in the year, in heavier rotation. Familiar stories are calming. The kids who are stretched at home find anchors in the familiar.
Slow the schedule. Add five minutes here and there to transitions. Stretch story time slightly longer. Give nap a wider runway. The kids’ nervous systems are running hotter; the schedule should run cooler.
Cook something simple, often. A weekly cooking project with one recipe. Bread. Soup. Apple sauce. The smell of cooking in a classroom does enormous work for regulation. The kids participate. The day feels grounded.
Read aloud. More than usual. Picture books, longer stories for older preschoolers, poetry. Reading aloud is the quietest, most regulating curriculum we have. Use it.
Music, softly. Quiet songs at transition. Soft instrumental music during free play. Less of the bright, fast holiday music. The kids are getting plenty of that elsewhere.
Outdoor time, even more deliberately. The light is shorter. The bodies need movement. A daily, intentional outdoor block — even thirty minutes — reduces afternoon dysregulation more than any indoor activity.
Skip the optional. The big classroom party. The elaborate craft. The dressed-up family event. Cut what doesn’t need to happen. Save your team’s energy for the day-to-day program.
Talk about families warmly. The kids are thinking about their families this time of year. A ‘tell us about something your family does this time of year’ circle, handled gently and inclusively, helps them connect to home while in school.
Don’t push academic content. The math worksheet, the letter recognition drill, the assessment — none of it needs to happen in these weeks. Save it for January. The kids will be more available then.
Take care of your team. They’re tired. A small thank-you. A cancelled meeting. A short workday before the break. The team will hold the kids; you hold the team.
And take care of yourself. The owner who runs full-speed through these two weeks is the owner who can’t show up for January. Slow down where you can.
Quieter curriculum is not less curriculum. It’s the curriculum the kids need most right now.