Helping Children Communicate Emotions During the Holidays

Winter holidays mean decorations, songs, maybe noise. Routines get tossed aside, plans keep shifting. Kids experience new people, louder rooms, different schedules. When speaking feels tough, confusion builds fast. Meltdowns? A scream could hold sadness, fear, anything underneath.

Every parent wants their child to express their feelings. Words might not yet exist for what they're feeling or when kids are dysregulated, they don't have easy access to language.

When children gain the ability to communicate “I feel frustrated” instead of reacting with tantrums, progress often happens slowly. Over time, however, the outcomes are meaningful and life-changing. They start asking for what they need; sensory tool, a break, a quiet room rather than melting down. When your child can communicate through spoken words, signs, or AAC—pointing to “sad,” “frustrated,” or “excited” even without speech—parents no longer have to guess what they’re feeling. The air in the house changes when that happens. Holiday noise doesn’t vanish, yet it stops feeling like pressure. Everyone breathes differently once understanding and communication grows.

Why the Holidays Can Feel So Hard

For children with communication challenges, holidays can feel like a sensory storm. Sudden noises, bright lights, and busy rooms pile on stress. New tastes appear without warning. Schedules shift without explanation. With each added demand, a child’s nervous system moves closer to overload. Adults can name that feeling and seek quiet. Our children who are prev-verbal and non-speaking cannot. Their silence does not mean they are calm and okay.

Teaching the Language of Feelings

Using Communication Early to Predict Stress and Prevent Overload

Some children learn words for feelings quickly. Others need support learning them—just like they learn new nouns or verbs. In therapy sessions, we intentionally name emotions such as sadness, frustration, tiredness, and hunger.

Parents can do the same at home by labeling emotions in real time:

“You’re frustrated.” (point to FRUSTRATED on AAC) “That puzzle is hard.”“I feel stressed.” (model STRESSED on AAC) “I’m going to take a deep breath.”

When children hear emotion words used again and again, they begin connecting their internal sensations with what’s happening around them. Pictures, symbols, and AAC provide added support when speaking is difficult.

What matters most isn’t getting the label exactly right—it’s building a bridge between your child’s inner experience and their ability to express it.

During the holidays, children may feel overwhelmed long before they can say so. Starting these conversations early can help prevent stress from escalating. Talk through upcoming events together: “We’re going to Grandma’s house after lunch. There will be lots of people and music. If it feels too loud, you can tell me or show me on your board.”

Visual schedules, social stories, and AAC messages like “I need quiet” or “all done” give children a way to communicate before overload sets in.

Beyond managing behavior, these supports build language. Every time a child shares a feeling using speech, signs, or AAC, they’re practicing meaningful communication in real life.

Co-Regulation: How Your Calm Becomes Their Calm

Little ones pick up how to handle big feelings by being close to someone who cares. Safety and being heard come first - those are things they borrow from adults at first. Parents naming emotions out loud while staying steady shows your child a healthy way to cope.

Take a moment when your kid feels overwhelmed in a busy room. Say something like, “This place is loud. I'm feeling frustrated. Let's go to a quiet room.” Labeling the noise teaches them words for their feelings. Slowly, those words stick. They start using them on their own.

A moment of quiet connection might shift everything. Looking someone in the eye, speaking softly, or breathing together slowly says, I’m here. This kind of signal grows trust bit by bit. Feelings start making sense when that base is set.

Children Communicate Emotions: Modeling Emotional Language Every Day

Modeling emotions starts with sharing how you feel as moments unfold. Say it out loud. “I feel excited putting ornaments on the tree.” “After hours in the kitchen, my body feels tired.” When holiday lights won’t turn on, frustration shows—and you name it. Then pause. Take a breath. Try another outlet.

Seeing emotions acknowledged calmly helps children feel safe. When adults reflect feelings without judgment, children learn that all emotions are okay. Books, videos, and pretend play also open the door-watching a character frown invites questions like, “What do you think she’s feeling?” These moments build real skills: naming emotions, noticing causes, and making connections. Over time, words grow naturally, weaving emotional awareness into everyday conversations.

The Goal: Connection Over Perfection

Festive times often stir strong reactions in people of all ages. Joy may arrive alongside messiness or tears and that’s okay. Children communicate emotions in the ways they can. When adults pause to listen instead of rushing to fix or dismiss, tension softens. Growth often lives right inside the discomfort.

When a child shows emotion - by speaking, signing, pointing - it sticks. They begin to see their words carry weight. Feeling heard brings its own kind of comfort. The aim isn’t flawless moments or quiet days. It’s closeness built word by word.

Need support helping your child express emotions through speech or AAC? We’re here to help make communication clearer and daily moments feel more manageable.

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