The holidays are more than lights and presents — they’re the perfect time to teach children the deeper values of compassion and gratitude. By weaving these lessons into fun winter crafts and classroom activities, you help kids slow down, reflect, and build emotional skills that last long after the season.
Here are Christmas and winter SEL activities that encourage kindness, gratitude, and community — while keeping the joy and creativity alive.
Why Winter SEL Activities Matter
- Balances Holiday Excitement: Helps children manage big feelings during a stimulating season.
- Teaches Compassion: Creates opportunities to give, share, and empathize with others.
- Encourages Gratitude: Shifts focus from “getting” to appreciating what we have.
- Supports Mental Health: Reflection and kindness reduce stress for kids and classrooms.
1. Gratitude Ornament Craft
How it works:
- Provide clear plastic ornaments.
- Kids write something they’re thankful for on slips of paper and place them inside.
- Decorate with glitter, ribbon, or stickers.
SEL benefit: Builds gratitude practice into a seasonal keepsake.
2. Kindness Advent Calendar
How it works:
- Instead of candy, create a calendar with daily kindness challenges (e.g., “Compliment a friend,” “Write a thank-you note”).
SEL benefit: Turns holiday anticipation into compassion-building habits.
3. Winter Gratitude Journal
How it works:
- Create a mini journal with winter-themed covers.
- Prompts like “One person I’m thankful for this week is…” guide reflection.
SEL benefit: Daily writing strengthens emotional awareness and positive focus.
4. Classroom Kindness Tree
How it works:
- Draw or craft a big tree on a bulletin board.
- Each time a student notices kindness, they add a paper “leaf” or “snowflake” to the tree.
SEL benefit: Reinforces empathy and community spirit.
5. Compassion Cards for Community Helpers
How it works:
- Kids design holiday cards for mail carriers, nurses, firefighters, or teachers.
- Deliver cards as a class or family activity.
SEL benefit: Encourages gratitude beyond the home or classroom.
6. Winter Reflection Lanterns
How it works:
- Kids decorate paper lanterns with drawings of what “light” they bring to others (friendship, patience, creativity).
SEL benefit: Builds identity and self-worth through symbolic art.
7. Gratitude Circle Sharing
How it works:
- Sit in a circle, pass around a soft object (like a snowball pillow).
- Each child shares something they’re grateful for.
SEL benefit: Normalizes emotional sharing in groups.
Final Thoughts
The holidays are a season of sparkle and excitement, but they’re also an opportunity to help children connect with deeper values. By practicing compassion and gratitude through crafts and group activities, you give kids the tools to carry kindness and appreciation into the new year.
For more seasonal ideas, explore my guides on New Year Reflection Crafts for Kids and Snowflake Mindfulness Crafts for Kids.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Eve, a former school counselor with a master’s degree in School Psychology and a passionate advocate for children and families navigating sensory challenges. As a mom of children with sensory sensitivities, I deeply understand the journey special-needs parents face, and I dedicate myself to researching and sharing practical solutions to help children thrive and feel comfortable in their bodies. My goal is also to empower counselors, therapists, and psychologists with creative strategies and supportive resources to enrich their everyday practice. When I’m not writing or exploring new therapeutic approaches, you’ll find me spending quality time with my family and continually seeking inspiration from everyday moments.
