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Christmas can be one of the most exciting times of the school year.

It can also be noisy, unpredictable, emotionally complicated, and very different from one child to another.

Some students are counting the days until Christmas morning. Others are navigating changes between households, missing someone, worrying about family gatherings, feeling overwhelmed by altered routines, or simply not celebrating Christmas at all.

That makes December a surprisingly useful time for social-emotional learning.

The best Christmas counseling activities do more than add Santa hats to an ordinary worksheet. They use familiar seasonal themes—ornaments, stockings, Christmas trees, snowmen, lights, gifts—to open conversations about emotions, coping skills, friendship, expectations, kindness, belonging, and reflection.

Below are 25 Christmas SEL activities for school counselors, teachers, small groups, and individual sessions. Most require only basic craft supplies and can easily be changed into general winter activities when Christmas does not fit a particular student or school community.

If you want a quieter daily December practice as well, Eveyou’s Mindful Advent Calendar offers another simple way to bring reflection and mindfulness into the season.

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Christmas Feelings Aren’t Always Merry

Before starting a December counseling lesson, it helps to leave space for more than excitement and gratitude.

Children may feel:

• excited
• impatient
• disappointed
• overwhelmed
• lonely
• worried
• tired
• jealous
• hopeful
• sad
• curious
• frustrated

And several of those feelings can exist at the same time.

A child might love visiting relatives but dread the crowded house.

They might feel excited about gifts and sad because someone important will not be there.

They might enjoy classroom celebrations while struggling with the disruption to their usual routine.

The goal of Christmas SEL is not to convince children to feel cheerful. It is to give them more language and strategies for understanding whatever they are experiencing.

When Christmas itself is not appropriate, almost every activity below can become a winter counseling activity using snowflakes, stars, mittens, evergreen trees, or simple December imagery.

25 Christmas Counseling Activities for Kids

1. Christmas Feelings Check-In

Draw a large Christmas tree and add several ornaments labeled with different emotions.

For example:

excited, calm, worried, frustrated, tired, happy, lonely, overwhelmed

Ask students to choose the ornament that best represents how they feel today.

Older students can choose two.

Then ask:

“Can both of those feelings be true at the same time?”

This is a simple way to normalize mixed emotions during a season that is often presented as universally joyful.

2. Emotion Ornament Activity

Give each student a paper ornament.

On the front, they draw a facial expression representing one emotion.

On the back, add:

I might feel this when…

and:

Something that helps me when I feel this way is…

Younger children can draw their answers while older students can write more detailed examples.

Hang the ornaments together to create a display showing how many different emotions can belong in the same classroom.

3. Coping Skills Christmas Tree

Draw a Christmas tree with several branches.

Students place one coping strategy on each branch.

Ideas might include:

• ask someone for help
• take a short break
• draw
• move my body
• get more information
• listen to music
• use slow breathing
• talk to someone I trust
• write down what is bothering me

Then add a star at the top:

“One strategy I want to practice.”

This keeps the activity focused on flexible coping rather than collecting a long list of techniques.

4. Holiday Feelings Thermometer

Create a simple 1–5 scale.

For example:

1 — comfortable

2 — starting to notice something

3 — getting harder

4 — overwhelmed

5 — I need support or a change

Ask students to identify what their body, thoughts, or behavior might look like at each level.

Then create a plan:

What could help at level 2 or 3 before things become much harder?

This can be especially useful for children who find busy gatherings, assemblies, school parties, or changes in routine difficult.

5. Kindness Advent Challenge

Create a simple December kindness calendar.

Instead of assigning large acts, keep them realistic:

• thank someone
• invite someone to join
• hold the door
• help clean up
• give a sincere compliment
• listen without interrupting
• ask someone how they are
• include someone who looks left out

Avoid framing kindness as constant self-sacrifice. Respecting boundaries, accepting “no,” and asking before helping are also forms of social awareness.

For a more reflective December countdown, pair this idea with Eveyou’s Mindful Advent Calendar.

6. Christmas Problem-Solving Cards

Write common December challenges on cards.

For example:

“Your friend received something you really wanted.”

“Plans changed at the last minute.”

“Someone does not want to play the game you chose.”

“The classroom is much louder than usual.”

“You expected something to happen and it didn’t.”

Work through four questions:

What happened?

How might the person feel?

What are several possible responses?

What could happen after each response?

The goal is generating choices, not finding one perfect answer.

7. What I Can Control Snow Globe

Draw a large snow globe and divide it into two areas.

Inside the globe:

Things I can influence or control

Outside the globe:

Things I cannot control

Examples include:

• what gift someone gives me
• whether plans change
• what another person says
• whether I ask for a break
• how I respond
• whether I tell someone I need help

Then ask:

“What can you do when something outside the snow globe is bothering you?”

That final step turns sorting into practical coping.

8. Holiday Expectations vs. Reality

Fold a paper in half.

On one side write:

What I hope will happen

On the other:

What I can do if things are different

Examples might include holiday parties, gift exchanges, travel, family visits, or school celebrations.

This can help older elementary and middle-school students think more flexibly about expectations without suggesting that disappointment is wrong.

9. Friendship Gift Box

Draw or build a paper gift box.

Instead of filling it with objects, students add things that make friendship feel supportive.

For example:

• honesty
• humor
• taking turns
• listening
• apologizing
• giving space
• including others
• respecting boundaries

Then ask:

“Would every friend want exactly the same things in their friendship box?”

That creates a useful conversation about individual differences.

For more friendship and perspective-taking activities, see Eveyou’s Empathy Activities for Kids.

10. Christmas Coping Skills Stocking

Give each student a paper stocking.

Inside it, they draw or write several strategies they can “keep with them” during difficult moments.

Encourage variety:

Something I can do with my body

Someone I can talk to

Something I can tell myself

Something I can change about the situation

Something comforting I can do afterward

This creates a more balanced coping plan than filling the stocking with five versions of deep breathing.

11. Snowman Emotion Matching

Create snowman faces showing different expressions and separate emotion-word cards.

Students match them.

For older children, include more nuanced pairs:

• nervous / excited
• disappointed / sad
• annoyed / angry
• embarrassed / uncomfortable
• lonely / bored

Then ask:

“Could two people see the same face and guess different feelings?”

This reinforces that facial expressions give clues, but we cannot always know exactly what another person feels.

12. Gingerbread Feelings Faces

Give students blank gingerbread-person templates.

Ask them to create characters experiencing different emotions.

Then build short stories:

What happened?

What might the gingerbread person be thinking?

What could they need?

Using a fictional character can make emotional discussion easier for children who do not want to talk directly about themselves.

13. Holiday Sensory Overload Plan

Ask students what makes busy December environments difficult.

Possibilities include:

• loud music
• crowded rooms
• strong smells
• lots of conversation
• waiting
• bright lights
• unfamiliar foods
• changes in routine

Then create a personal plan:

What can I notice early?

What could I ask for?

Where could I take a break if that is possible?

Which adult could help?

Avoid assuming every student needs the same sensory strategy.

The value is identifying what works for the individual child.

14. Giving and Receiving Social Skills Scenarios

Gift exchanges create several useful social scenarios.

Try:

“You receive something you do not like.”

“Someone likes your gift but another person does not.”

“Your friend gets something you wanted.”

“Someone asks how much your gift cost.”

“You cannot participate in a gift exchange.”

Discuss feelings, social expectations, honesty, boundaries, and possible responses.

There does not need to be one scripted “correct” reaction.

15. Christmas Worry Tree

Draw a tree and place worries on paper ornaments.

Then sort each worry into one of three areas:

Something I can take action on

Something I can ask for help with

Something I may need to practice coping with because I cannot control it

This keeps the activity from becoming simply “write your worry and throw it away.”

Some worries need problem-solving. Some need support. Others need tolerance of uncertainty.

16. Strengths Ornament

Give each child a paper ornament and ask them to choose one personal strength.

Examples:

• creative
• persistent
• thoughtful
• funny
• curious
• brave
• fair
• patient
• good listener
• willing to try

Then add:

“A time I used this strength was…”

Specific examples make the activity more meaningful than simply decorating a list of positive words.

17. Christmas Lights Breathing Practice

Draw a strand of Christmas lights.

Students slowly trace from one light to the next while pairing the movement with comfortable, unforced breathing.

You can also alternate:

notice the light — breathe in gently

move to the next — breathe out

The purpose is practicing attention and slowing down, not promising that breathing will always eliminate anxiety or strong emotions.

18. My Support People Christmas Tree

Create a tree with several layers of branches.

Students add supportive people they can approach in different situations.

For example:

At school

At home

When I need help solving something

When I need someone to listen

When I feel unsafe

A child does not need to fill every branch.

If their support network feels small, focus on identifying one reliable person and how the child could approach them.

19. Holiday Boundaries Scenarios

This works particularly well with older children and middle-school students.

Use scenarios such as:

“A relative wants a hug and you do not.”

“Someone keeps asking a personal question.”

“A friend pressures you to join an activity.”

“You need a break from a noisy gathering.”

Practice simple responses such as:

“No thank you.”

“I don’t want to talk about that.”

“I’m going to take a break.”

“I’d rather do something else.”

Talk about when adult help may be needed as well.

20. Compliment Christmas Chain

Cut strips of colored paper.

Students write one specific positive observation on each strip.

Instead of:

“You’re nice.”

encourage:

“You helped me understand the directions.”

or:

“You invited me to play.”

Connect the strips into a paper chain.

For groups that do not know one another well, make the activity about the classroom or group instead:

“Something our group does well…”

21. Winter Kindness Bingo

Create a bingo grid using realistic prosocial actions.

Squares might include:

• thank someone
• invite someone to join
• listen carefully
• help without taking over
• respect someone’s boundary
• clean up something you used
• ask someone how they are doing
• notice something someone did well

Keep it cooperative rather than turning kindness into a competition.

22. Christmas Gratitude Without Pressure

Instead of:

“Write five things you should be thankful for.”

try prompts such as:

• something that helped me recently
• something I enjoyed
• a person I appreciate
• something that made today easier
• something I am proud of
• something I am looking forward to

Children can choose one prompt rather than completing all of them.

Gratitude can be meaningful when it is an invitation—not when it is used to override disappointment, sadness, or stress.

23. Missing Someone During the Holidays

Give students the option to complete:

“Someone or something I miss during this season…”

Then:

“One way I can remember, connect, or take care of myself when I miss them…”

Options might include:

• looking at a photo
• talking about a memory
• drawing
• writing a note
• talking with someone supportive
• continuing a meaningful tradition

Make participation optional and avoid assuming the loss involves death. Children may miss a parent, friend, previous home, pet, school, or another part of their life.

24. December Calm-Down Plan

Create a one-page plan with:

I know I am getting overwhelmed when…

A small thing that sometimes helps is…

A person I can ask for support is…

A place I may be able to take a break is…

If that does not work, I can…

Avoid presenting the plan as a guarantee that the child will become calm.

A better goal is helping them recognize their needs earlier and have more possible responses available.

25. End-of-Year Reflection Ornament

Finish December with a large paper ornament divided into four sections:

Something I learned

Something that was difficult

Something I handled well

Something I want to keep practicing

Children can write, draw, or discuss their answers.

This creates a natural bridge from Christmas activities into January reflection.

For more year-end ideas, continue with Eveyou’s New Year Reflection Crafts for Kids.

Christmas Counseling Activities by Goal

You certainly do not need all 25.

Choose according to what students are already working on.

For Emotional Awareness

Try:

• Christmas Feelings Check-In
• Emotion Ornament
• Snowman Emotion Matching
• Gingerbread Feelings Faces
• Holiday Feelings Thermometer

For Coping and Emotional Regulation

Try:

• Coping Skills Christmas Tree
• Christmas Coping Skills Stocking
• Holiday Sensory Overload Plan
• Christmas Worry Tree
• December Calm-Down Plan

For Friendship and Social Skills

Try:

• Friendship Gift Box
• Giving and Receiving Scenarios
• Holiday Boundaries Scenarios
• Compliment Christmas Chain
• Winter Kindness Bingo

For Strengths and Self-Reflection

Try:

• Strengths Ornament
• My Support People Christmas Tree
• End-of-Year Reflection Ornament

For Flexible Thinking and Problem-Solving

Try:

• Christmas Problem-Solving Cards
• What I Can Control Snow Globe
• Holiday Expectations vs. Reality

How to Adapt Christmas SEL Activities by Age

Kindergarten Through Grade 2

Keep the theme visual.

Use:

• drawing
• matching
• puppets
• simple choices
• movement
• facial expressions

Instead of asking:

“How would you regulate yourself when holiday plans change unexpectedly?”

try:

“The gingerbread person thought they were going somewhere, but the plans changed. How might they feel? What could they do next?”

Grades 3–5

Add more complexity.

Students can compare several solutions, discuss mixed feelings, explore expectations, and consider different perspectives.

This age group may especially enjoy:

• problem-solving cards
• coping stockings
• snow globes
• support trees
• friendship gifts

For more year-round emotional-learning ideas, see Mental Health Awareness Activities for Upper Elementary Students.

Middle School

Use less childish visuals if your students prefer them.

A winter or minimal Christmas aesthetic often works better than cartoon Santa worksheets.

Focus on:

• expectations
• friendship
• family differences
• boundaries
• overwhelm
• disappointment
• social pressure
• mixed emotions
• reflection

Older students may also benefit from Eveyou’s Empathy Exercises for Teens.

Christmas Counseling Activities for Small Groups

Small groups give you room for interaction.

Good choices include:

Friendship Gift Box for friendship groups.

Christmas Problem-Solving Cards for social-skills groups.

Compliment Christmas Chain once the group has developed some familiarity.

Holiday Expectations vs. Reality for coping or emotional-regulation groups.

Giving and Receiving Scenarios for perspective-taking and communication.

Keep personal holiday disclosure optional.

Students can always respond for:

• a fictional character
• “a kid my age”
• someone in a story
• an imaginary family

That gives everyone a way to participate.

Christmas Counseling Activities for Individual Sessions

Individual counseling allows you to take one simple activity much deeper.

A Christmas Worry Tree can become a personalized map of worries the child can solve, worries that need adult support, and worries connected to uncertainty.

A Holiday Feelings Thermometer can become an individualized early-warning and support plan.

A Support People Christmas Tree can include practicing the exact words the child might use to ask someone for help.

The Christmas design provides the entry point.

The real counseling goal remains underneath.

Keep December Counseling Activities Low-Prep

You can make nearly every activity in this article using:

• cardstock or construction paper
• markers
• scissors
• glue
• index cards
• sticky notes
• yarn
• plain emotion cards
• reusable dry-erase sleeves if you already own them

You do not need a completely new set of Christmas counseling supplies.

Reusable emotional-learning resources can simply be paired with inexpensive seasonal shapes or prompts.

The activity should still make sense once the glitter is removed.

What to Avoid in Christmas SEL Activities

Assuming everyone celebrates Christmas

Offer a winter version whenever needed.

Assuming the holiday is happy

Leave room for mixed emotions.

Requiring children to disclose family circumstances

Use fictional scenarios when appropriate.

Forcing gratitude

Invite noticing and appreciation without implying children should feel grateful regardless of circumstances.

Turning coping skills into “calm down” commands

Some situations need problem-solving, support, a boundary, or a change in the environment—not simply relaxation.

Making crafts more important than the SEL goal

If fifteen minutes are spent cutting out a perfect Christmas tree and two minutes are spent discussing coping, simplify the tree.

The craft is the container.

The conversation is the point.

A Ready-to-Use 30-Minute Christmas SEL Lesson

If you need one low-prep December lesson, combine three activities.

5 Minutes: Christmas Feelings Check-In

Students choose one or two feelings that describe how they are doing.

Sharing stays optional.

15 Minutes: Christmas Problem-Solving Cards

Choose several seasonal scenarios.

Discuss:

• possible emotions
• different choices
• likely consequences
• possible support

7 Minutes: Coping Skills Christmas Tree

Each student chooses three strategies and one they want to practice.

3 Minutes: Closing Reflection

Ask:

“What is one thing you want to remember when December feels difficult, exciting, or overwhelming?”

That gives you emotional awareness, problem-solving, coping, and reflection without an elaborate lesson plan.

Final Thoughts

The best Christmas counseling activities do not require children to be merry.

They give children language for the full experience of December.

Excitement and disappointment.

Connection and loneliness.

Anticipation and overwhelm.

Gratitude and frustration.

A Christmas tree can become a coping plan.

An ornament can become a strengths reflection.

A snow globe can help separate what a child can control from what they cannot.

A gift box can become a conversation about friendship.

Use the seasonal theme when it makes the activity more inviting.

Adapt it to winter when Christmas does not fit.

And keep the emotional-learning goal more important than the decoration.

December does not need to be emotionally perfect to become a meaningful opportunity for connection, reflection, and practicing skills children can carry into the new year.

For a daily seasonal reflection option, continue with the Mindful Advent Calendar. And when December turns into January, Eveyou’s New Year Reflection Crafts for Kids provide a natural next step.