The holiday season brings excitement, joy, and, at times, extra holiday stress. As routines shift and schedules fill up, both teachers and students can feel the impact. Supporting student mental health during this time of year means helping them manage emotions, stay connected, and maintain a sense of calm amid the hustle and bustle of the holidays.
Before the holiday break, educators can use classroom tech tools to help students reflect, de-stress, and strengthen social-emotional learning (SEL) skills. Then, once winter break begins, students can continue building positive habits with apps and digital resources that support their well-being at home. Here are six powerful tools, three for school and three for students to utilize at home, to support student wellness during this possibly stressful time of the school year.
In the Classroom: Building Routines Before the Holiday Break
1. Calm – Daily Mindfulness for the Classroom
The Calm app is an educator favorite for promoting relaxation and balance during the school day. With guided meditations, nature sounds, and breathing exercises, Calm can help to reduce stress levels and improve focus, especially helpful for older students balancing end-of-semester projects. These short brain breaks not only enhance student mental health but also create a more peaceful learning environment leading into winter break.
2. Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame – SEL for Younger Students
This interactive app helps children navigate tough emotions by teaching social-emotional learning (SEL) skills in an age-appropriate way. It’s perfect for special education settings or younger students who may struggle with holiday stress. By practicing emotional regulation through storytelling and interactive play, teachers can support student growth and create a calmer learning environment before the holiday break.
3. GoNoodle – Fun Brain Breaks for Energy and Focus
GoNoodle is perfect for helping students stay on task and shake off restlessness. With a wide variety of interactive movement videos and quick dance breaks, it’s an easy way to incorporate physical activity into the school day. These moments of movement support both academic engagement and mental health by helping students release energy and refocus. They’re also an inclusive activity for special education classrooms or learners with special needs.
At Home: Encouraging Wellness During Winter Break
4. Headspace – Mindfulness Anywhere
When holiday stress peaks, students need tools to unwind at home. Headspace offers guided meditations, short podcasts, and sleep sounds designed to support student mental health and wellness. It’s ideal for older students who might experience anxiety over grades, social expectations, or changes with family members during the holiday season. The app’s easy navigation and notifications make it a great daily companion over winter break.
5. How We Feel – Understanding Emotions Beyond the Classroom
Created in collaboration with researchers from Yale’s Center for Emotional Intelligence, the How We Feel app helps students identify, track, and understand their emotions. Through quick daily check-ins, students select how they’re feeling and why, then receive personalized strategies to manage their emotions.
Encouraging students to use the app throughout the holiday season can help reduce holiday stress and gives them an outlet to process their thoughts, turning reflection into an active part of their learning experience. Teachers and family members can even model use of the app together, helping strengthen emotional awareness and communication as everyone takes time to rest and recharge over winter break.
6. Insight Timer – Free Mindfulness and SEL at Home
Insight Timer offers thousands of free meditations, yoga sessions, and soothing audio designed for well-being and mental health. Students can explore sessions on gratitude, resilience, and focus—perfect for recharging over winter break. Teachers can even recommend specific playlists as part of a broader social-emotional learning activity, helping to support student growth even when school is out.
Keeping Student Mental Health a Priority All Year Long
The holiday season is a valuable reminder that caring for student mental health extends beyond the classroom. Whether it’s creating mindful moments before the holiday break or encouraging healthy habits during winter break, simple tech tools can help students develop lasting coping strategies for wellness and resilience.
As educators, families, and school districts work together to nurture student mental health, they’re not just preparing students for a restful break – they’re setting the stage for a positive start to the new school year. A few mindful clicks, the right apps, and a little intentionality can make this time of year brighter and less stressful for everyone.
——-
Can’t forget our shameless plug for iResQ’s repair services, because your IT team’s mental health matters too! Take the burden off of repairs and send them to us!