Creative Solutions for a Busy Holiday Season

The period from Thanksgiving onwards is a whirlwind of festive cheer and shifting routines for speech-language pathologists (SLPs). The holiday spirit is infectious, with students abuzz with excitement, and your plans must stay fluid amidst the constant schedule changes. With this guide, discover free, innovative ideas, tips for managing high energy in the classroom, at-home practice suggestions, and valuable resources to help lighten your load this winter season.

🎅 Challenges SLPs Face During the Holidays

1. Unpredictable Schedules

Holiday concerts, special assemblies, and varied dismissal times may lead to inconsistent session schedules.

How to manage it:

Prepare a range of quick “grab-and-go” activities that fit into 5–10-minute slots.
Engage with teachers ahead of time to foresee any changes in the week's schedule.

Why this works:

Quick activities help maintain progress even during shortened sessions.
Foreknowledge of disruptions allows you to adjust more smoothly.

2. Extra Student Energy & Short Attention Spans

The holidays naturally increase students' energy and impulsivity, often resulting in reduced attention spans.

How to manage it:

Begin sessions with a brief movement break incorporating marching, stretching, or 'freeze like a snowman' games.
Use visual aids such as timers and picture schedules to establish clear expectations.

Why this works:

Movement breaks help regulate students' energy, enhancing focus.
Visual aids provide structure and reduce amped-up energy's chaotic effect.

3. Limited Planning Time

The demands of IEPs, evaluations, meetings, and holiday festivities often leave minimal planning time.

How to manage it:

Implement short, reusable activities across different groups.
Adapt existing materials with seasonal themes rather than creating new ones.

Why this works:

Reusability minimizes the time spent planning during busy weeks.
Adding a holiday theme can increase engagement without extra work.

4. Higher Burnout Risk

The winter period can be overwhelming, with added holiday pressures increasing emotional and physical demands.

How to manage it:

Set clear boundaries, such as no planning after a set time or simplifying one session a day.
Utilize prepared materials to reduce your workload.

Why this works:

Implementing boundaries helps prevent burnout and maintains your energy levels.
Pre-made resources free your mental space for critical tasks.

For more on easing these transitions, explore our internal resource: Seasonal Shift: Fall to Winter Speech Therapy Tips

🎁 Free & Easy Holiday Speech Therapy Ideas

1. Holiday Word Hunt

Hide festive words around your classroom for students to discover and use them in speech activities like articulation and sentence building.
Why it works:

Gamifying practice enhances motivation.
Movement increases student engagement and focus.

Time required:

1 minute to set up
3–5 minutes for activity

Access a FREE Winter Word List by joining our 12 Days of Speech Savings!

2. Story Cube Challenge

Craft creative stories utilizing dice, image cubes, or picture cards where each roll adds to the narrative.
Why it works:

Addresses multiple skills: narratives, sequencing, and vocabulary.
Encourages creativity and interactive conversation.

Time required:

2 minutes to prepare
5–7 minutes for activity

3. Holiday “Would You Rather?” Questions

Provide themed prompts like “Would you rather build a snowman or decorate cookies?” Students answer and explain their reasoning.
Why it works:

Enhances reasoning, expressive language, and conversation skills.
Ideal for varied groups, maintaining enthusiasm.

Time required:

No prep needed (if the list is made)
3–6 minutes for activity

4. Gift Wrap Guessing Game

Wrap an item or card in paper. Students ask yes/no questions to infer its identity, then craft sentences with the item once revealed.
Why it works:

Improves descriptive skills, inferencing, and question formulation.
Incorporates excitement and discovery to engage students.

Time required:

2 minutes to prepare
5 minutes for activity

5. Free Digital Activities from Speech Therapy Plans

Access our free, no-prep holiday activities perfect for quick sessions or teletherapy. Subscribe below for ongoing weekly freebies straight to your inbox!

Want more? Our comprehensive SLP Holiday Bundle is currently on sale! Explore our SLP Holiday Speech Therapy Bundle

✨ Managing High Student Energy in December

1. Begin With Movement

Incorporate brief 30–60 second movement breaks like marching or 'freeze like a snowman.'
Why it works:

Regulates sensory and motor functions for better focus.
Decreases impulsive behavior while boosting concentration.

2. Use Visual Supports

Include simple schedules, timers, or task lists to signal upcoming activities.
Why it works:

Reduces student anxiety by clarifying classroom events.
Makes transitions more efficient and orderly.

3. Keep Activities Short

Utilize 3–5 minute activity periods, switching between movement, tasks, and games.
Why it works:

Aligns with current student attention spans.
Maintains engagement, reducing behavioral disruptions.

4. Add Choice-Making

Provide options such as game pieces or starting tasks for students to choose from.
Why it works:

Increases student buy-in and interest.
Mitigates difficult behaviors through personal choice.

🏠 Holiday At-Home Speech Practice Ideas

Winter Speech Scavenger Hunt

Encourage families to find household items corresponding to your child's target speech sounds (such as cookie, cocoa, candy cane).
Why it works:

Facilitates fun, effective home practice.
Engages parents without requiring special materials.

Time required:

No preparation needed
3–5 minutes for families

Holiday Journaling

Send home simple prompts for students to draw or write about their holiday experiences (“My favorite holiday treat,” “A winter memory”).
Why it works:

Supports narrative skills, sequencing, and grammar practice.
Presents a way to practice language without formal ‘homework’.

Time required:

2–5 minutes per prompt
1 minute prep time

Parent-Friendly Help

Great resources for caregivers: Zero to Three communication tips

Suggested developmental tool: CDC Developmental Milestones

For speech clarity concerns, reference our own guide: Speech Clarity Checklist for Babies & Toddlers

🎉 Simplify December With the SLP Holiday Bundle

If you’re short on time, our SLP Holiday Bundle grants you instant access to no-prep, engaging materials tailored for articulation, language, mixed groups, and social skills. The Holiday Speech Therapy Bundle ensures your sessions remain enjoyable and impactful, without dedicating hours to preparation. All of this is available for just $10!

☃️ Here’s what’s included:

❄️ Holiday-Themed Worksheets for articulation and language skills, no prep required.
🎲 Winter-Themed Speech Games favored by students.
📱 Both Digital and Printable Activities for in-person and teletherapy dynamics.
📝 Over 1,200 pages designed for year-end use.

Order now before this deal ends to ensure you're equipped for the holidays!

Holiday Season SLP FAQ

How do I keep students focused when they’re extra energetic?

Opt for brief activities, incorporate movement exercises, use visual timers, establish predictable routines, and provide choices.

What are some easy, no-prep activities for busy weeks?

Consider “Would You Rather” questions, story cubes, scavenger hunts, winter word lists, or give existing worksheets a holiday twist.

How can I handle frequent schedule interruptions?

Prepare flexible activities, plan shorter sessions, and discuss potential schedule changes with teachers beforehand.

What should I send home for winter break?

Send out simple, sustainable options such as speech scavenger hunts, journaling prompts, holiday-themed word lists, or one-page articulation activities.

How can I reduce stress as an SLP in December?

Rely on ready-made materials, limit prep requirements, scale back on goals temporarily, and set clear expectations; your students will thrive regardless.

Speech Therapy Plans Can Reduce Your SLP Workload This Season

The holiday rush doesn’t need to be overwhelming. By embracing simple activities, adaptable routines, and a blend of fun and structure, your sessions will remain effective and enjoyable, even amid the busiest times. Integrate Speech Therapy Plans into your practices and watch as your free time expands, allowing for more impactful work that extends into the forthcoming year...

Join the 12 Days of Speech Savings

Optimize your month with our daily holiday-themed materials released weekly throughout December. These involve no-prep articulation sheets, digital activities via Google Slides, language games, and printable winter vocabulary sheets, perfect for filling unanticipated gaps or adding festivity to your lessons.

🎁 Daily Deals: Exclusive offers on necessary SLP materials.
🎉 Holiday Freebies: Seasonal surprises to uplift your spirit.
🎄 New Surprises Daily: Appearing straight in your inbox!
☃️ Initiates Friday, December 12th: Subscribe now to ensure you don't miss our gifts!

🎉 Bonus Gift: Register today for an immediate FREE Winter-Themed Word List to use in your sessions!

👉 Sign up below to access the deals, daily gifts, and your free word list!

Thank you for your dedication during this busy time. Keep things simple, utilize efficient tools, and celebrate every little win. You're doing important work, even amidst the holiday chaos.

Ultimate Holiday Speech Therapy Strategies for SLPs