Across the world, this time of year brings a shift. Work rhythms change, programs pause, schools temporarily close, and many of us prepare for holidays or seasonal celebrations that mark the end of a year.
In youth-serving spaces—whether we’re supporting children in schools, counseling rooms, community programs, shelters, after-school centers, or behavioral health settings—it’s natural to lean into the collective excitement that a “break” often brings.
But trauma-informed practice teaches us to hold more than one truth at a time:
Yes, breaks can be joyful. And yes, breaks can be deeply challenging.
For some young people, time away from school or services means rest, tradition, play, and connection.
For others, it means long stretches without predictable routines, fewer safe adults to check in with, complicated family dynamics, increased stress, or an overwhelming amount of unstructured time.
A break from services can sometimes mean a break from regulation, safety, nourishment, or belonging.
This isn’t a call to mute the joy of the season—it’s an invitation to widen the circle. Research consistently highlights the protective power of connection, consistency, and emotional safety—all of which can waver when routines pause.
The good news?
With intentional language and preparation, we can help every young person feel seen, supported, and ready for the break ahead.
Below are practical, research-informed strategies to help ensure that every child or adolescent—excited, anxious, or somewhere in between—feels seen, supported, and equipped as we head into holiday and seasonal breaks.
1. Reframe the Countdown: Keep the Excitement, Remove the Assumptions
Across settings, we often hear:
“Only a few more days until break!”
That may feel celebratory to some youth—but for others, it signals the loss of stability, trusted adults, or emotional safety.
Try shifting the narrative to be both warm and inclusive:
- “Break is coming up soon—let’s talk together about what we might need during that time.”
- “These last days before our pause are important. Let’s use them with intention.”
- “Break can feel exciting, overwhelming, uncertain, or something else completely. However you’re feeling is welcome.”
These small shifts keep joy alive while also protecting the experiences of those who may be silently bracing themselves.
2. Help Youth Build Predictability When Routine Is About to Disappear
Research is clear: Predictability regulates the nervous system.
Before your time together pauses, help youth map out what to expect—or what to reach for—when routines dissolve.
Try a “My Break Plan” Activity:
Include simple, accessible prompts:
- People I can reach out to if I need help
- Activities that calm me when I’m stressed
- My ideas for a daily routine (even broad categories: morning/afternoon/evening)
- Places in my community where I feel safe or comfortable
- Phone numbers or hotlines for support
- “What helps me when I feel…” (anxious, bored, overwhelmed, lonely)
The aim isn’t perfection—it’s agency, which is deeply protective for youth who’ve experienced trauma.
3. Strengthen Connection Before Services Pause
Connection is not just meaningful—it is biologically regulating (Perry, 2021).
Before a break:
Offer universal, grounding messages:
- “No matter how your break goes, you still belong here.”
- “When we return, I’m excited to see you again.”
- “You matter to me and to this community.”
Try a circle or group discussion:
Normalize the full range of feelings:
“Some people feel excited. Some feel nervous. Some feel both. All feelings are okay.”
This creates space for honesty—and dissolves shame for those who aren’t looking forward to time away.
4. Use Inclusive, Trauma-Sensitive Language Around Home and Family
Winter closures and holidays often come with lots of “family” talk. But not all youth experience family as safe or comforting.
Try shifting to phrasing that embraces all realities:
- Instead of “Enjoy time with your family!”
Try: “I hope you find moments of rest, joy, or comfort during the break—in whatever ways feel right for you.”
- Instead of “Tell your parents…”
Try: “Share this with the adults or caregivers who support you.”
- Instead of “What are your holiday traditions?”
Try: “What’s something you hope to do, try, or experience during the break?”
Language matters. It signals that youth do not need a “certain kind of family” to be valued or included.
5. Send Youth Into Break with Tools, Not Just Time Off
Whether you support kids through therapy, mentoring, group work, drop-in services, or school-based programs, consider offering coping tools they can use independently.
Build a “Break Resilience Kit” or handout with:
- Simple regulation strategies (breathing patterns, grounding exercises, movement resets)
- A menu of coping activities
- A list of local safe spaces/events
- A feelings wheel
- Positive affirmations rooted in resilience and identity
- Optional journaling prompts
- Crisis hotline numbers or resource contacts
These are not ‘clinical interventions’—they’re lifelines of self-regulation and connection that kids can grab onto when needed.
6. Support Caregivers Gently and Collaboratively
Families are often navigating their own layers of stress, trauma histories, cultural expectations, or holiday pressure.
A brief, compassionate message can make a difference:
- “Breaks look different for every family. Here are some optional ideas that may support consistency, connection, or calm during your time together.”
Share simple co-regulation ideas caregivers can realistically do:
- Taking movement breaks together
- Practicing a shared breathing routine
- Setting a predictable mealtime, even if other routines shift
- Using emotion language intentionally (“I’m feeling overwhelmed—let’s take a breath together.”)
7. Prioritize Your Own Awareness and Regulation
Whether you’re a clinician, educator, youth worker, or support staff—your nervous system is a major intervention.
Before break, reflect:
- How am I assuming youth feel?
- How can I stay grounded even as my own energy dips?
- Which youth might need an extra moment of connection before we separate?
Regulated adults create environments where youth feel safe—even when the world outside feels unpredictable.
8. Leave Youth With Hope—Authentic, Not Performative
Hope isn’t pretending everything is great.
Hope is reminding young people they have strengths, tools, and caring adults who will still be there on the other side of the break.
Try messages like:
- “Whatever your break looks like, you have what you need to get through hard moments—and support if you need it.”
- “If things get tough, here are people and places you can reach out to.”
- “We will be here when you return.”
Hope is one of the most scientifically validated resilience factors. And it costs nothing to offer.
Closing Reflection
Holiday and seasonal breaks impact young people in beautifully different—and sometimes painfully different—ways.
A trauma-informed mindset doesn’t erase the joy; it simply makes space for all experiences.
When we send youth into a break with regulation tools, predictable plans, inclusive language, and warm connection, we’re not just preparing them for time away—we’re reinforcing their sense of identity, safety, and resilience.
We remind them:
“Whatever this break brings, you are not on your own. You are seen, you belong, and we will be here when you return.”
That is trauma-informed care.
That is resilience science in motion.
And that is how we help every young person feel held—even when services pause.
🌟 Which strategy sparked something in you? Commit to trying one during this season of pause—and let us cheer you on. Share your resilience-inspired ideas for supporting yourself, your colleagues, and the youth you serve by tagging us on social media. Let’s ripple hope forward, together.
