Spreading Holiday Cheer in Your Child Care Program: Simple Ways to Create Joyful Memories
- Elite Team of Educators
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Holidays are an essential part of a child’s early school experience. Young children look forward to festive days—whether it means a special celebration, a themed activity, or simply a break from the usual routine. As early childhood educators and child care providers, we have a unique opportunity to make these moments meaningful.
Holiday celebrations allow us to teach children about traditions, culture, community, and the value of coming together. They help children understand why we celebrate, what makes each holiday special, and how different families and cultures honor meaningful moments throughout the year. These experiences are not only fun—they support identity development, social-emotional growth, and a sense of belonging.
With thoughtful planning, you can bring holiday cheer into your classrooms in ways that are developmentally appropriate, inclusive, and memorable. Here are some simple and joyful ways to spread holiday spirit in your child care program.
1. Decorate the Classroom Together
One of the easiest ways to bring holiday cheer is by involving children in creating a festive environment. Before the holiday arrives—Christmas, for example—you can invite children to help decorate the classroom.
Encourage them to bring a favorite (safe and appropriate) decoration from home.
Create a collaborative display on bulletin boards or a “holiday wall” to showcase their contributions.
Set up a Christmas tree in the hallway or shared space, and allow different classrooms to help decorate it.
For preschoolers, this can even become a fun team-building experience. A friendly decorating competition among classrooms or age groups builds excitement while reinforcing skills like cooperation, creativity, and pride in their work.
These are the moments children remember—tiny, joyful memories that stay with them long after the season is over.
2. Festive Dress-Up Days for Infants & Toddlers
Dress-up days are a simple way to create smiles—especially for babies and toddlers.
Encourage families to send children in holiday attire, matching pajamas, or festive colors. Infants and toddlers thrive on novelty, and when they see teachers and classmates dressed differently, they know something special is happening.
Dress-up days support:
Social-emotional development
Visual awareness
A sense of belonging
Family engagement (hello, adorable photos!)
Pair it with soft holiday music, simple sensory activities, and plenty of cozy, cheerful moments.
3. Share Holiday Stories, Foods, and Traditions
The holidays offer a wonderful opportunity to introduce children to diverse foods, traditions, and celebrations.
Teachers and caregivers can:
Read books about winter holidays or cultural celebrations
Show pictures of holiday meals or festive traditions
Invite children to share (or draw) their family traditions
Explore sensory-rich materials tied to the season
These experiences help children make connections between school celebrations and family culture while expanding their understanding of the world.
4. Try a Simple Culinary Experience: Gingerbread House Decorating
Culinary activities are perfect for the holiday season—and decorating a gingerbread house is always a hit!
This activity supports language, fine motor skills, math concepts, creativity, and teamwork. Plus, it’s just plain fun.
Here’s my favorite toddler- and preschool-friendly gingerbread house activity:
Mini Gingerbread Houses: Materials You’ll Need
Graham crackers
Icing (to act as “glue”)
Small paper plates
Holiday candy or cereal for decorating
Child-safe utensils
Wipes for easy cleanup
Children can build as a group, in pairs, or individually. They love seeing their ideas come to life, and this activity often becomes a beloved annual tradition.
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Final Thoughts
Spreading holiday cheer doesn’t require elaborate decorations or complicated plans. It’s about creating warm, joyful, memorable experiences that help children feel connected—to their classroom, their peers, and the traditions that shape their world.
Whether you’re decorating together, dressing up, sharing traditions, or building gingerbread houses, each moment contributes to a season filled with learning, laughter, and love.
Happy Holidays!
About the Authors:
At Elite Educational Enterprises, our commitment to early childhood educators goes beyond traditional training—we’re dedicated to supporting them in every facet of their professional journey. Through our programs, we:
Inform: We provide relevant, research-based knowledge that educators can trust. Our training covers practical strategies, best practices, and the latest industry standards, ensuring educators have the information they need to excel. By keeping our content current and accessible, we equip them to make well-informed decisions in their classrooms and programs.
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Our approach supports early childhood educators at every level, helping them not only to thrive but to inspire and elevate the lives of the children they teach.
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