Play Specialist Approved: Holiday Survival Tips from Lizzie Assa

Lizzie Assa, mom, founder of the Workspace for Children, and author of But I’m Bored! (available for pre-order now) joined us to share simple ways to stay grounded and connected this holiday season. 

The holiday season can feel both magical and overwhelming. How do you recommend families use a tool like the Springboard to stay grounded and connected during such a busy time?

We love using our Springboard especially during busy seasons. For older kids (around 5 and up), set up the Springboard with a few days of tiles at a time. Show them what the next several days will look like, travel, family events, school breaks, parties, so they can see the rhythm of the week. Keep the board somewhere they can access independently so they can explore the tiles, rearrange them, and process what is ahead in a way that makes sense to them.

For younger kids, keep it simpler. Show them just the day:
What is happening this morning?
What is happening later?
What familiar routines will stay the same?

As parents, using the Springboard this way is a great reminder that kids (and adults) feel calmer when they know what is coming next and can hold onto a bit of routine, even during the busiest weeks.

Routines tend to fall apart during holidays, travel, guests, late nights. What small, realistic shifts help kids (and parents) feel more regulated when everything feels off-schedule?

First, expect your child to be “off.” It does not mean they are ungrateful or unhappy, it means they are human and responding to big shifts in sleep, food, and stimulation.

A few doable shifts that help:
Be selective about events. Choose the ones that truly matter and let the rest go so your family has built-in downtime.

Pack a small “comfort backpack.” Let your child choose a stuffed animal, familiar snacks, a cozy change of clothes, and a comforting little toy.

Create a “soft landing spot.” When you arrive somewhere, find a little corner where they can retreat when they need a break. Even a small space helps them regulate.

Small rhythms and familiar comforts go a long way when everything else feels upside down.

Play can be such a helpful anchor when days feel unpredictable. What simple play setups or practices smooth tricky holiday moments?

Play is how children make sense of their world, and during the holidays they are absorbing a lot of excitement at school, at home, and everywhere you go. Simple, familiar play setups with a little seasonal twist can help them process all of that in a way that feels grounding.

I love using materials kids already know and adding a holiday element. That way, they can use tools they are comfortable with to play about new experiences.

A few easy ideas:
Magnetic tiles with a handful of small holiday figurines (trees, Santas, snowflakes, gifts)
Playdough with those same figurines mixed in
A basket of unit blocks with a few winter-themed loose parts

One December, I walked into our playroom to find that my kids had built a menorah out of unit blocks and battery-operated tea lights. When I paused before jumping in, I realized they were not just “being festive,” they were playing school and explaining Hanukkah to classmates who celebrated Christmas. If I had rushed in with big reactions about the menorah, I would have completely missed the point of their play. They were processing what it felt like to be Jewish in a predominantly Christian school.

Holiday themed play is not just cute or seasonal. It is a window into how kids are making sense of everything around them.

For families wanting more connection in the season, what are a few bite-sized rituals or check-ins that make a meaningful difference without adding to the to-do list?

Skip the over engineered crafts that take tons of prep and last two minutes. Instead, use art and play as a way to gather.

One of my favorites:
Roll out butcher paper
Draw simple outlines (snowmen, candy canes, Santa hats) with a Sharpie
Let the kids color, sticker, or paint however they want, inside the lines, outside the lines, no one cares
Add a plate of cookies and a few candy canes for a celebratory vibe with zero pressure

When thinking about rituals, choose things that feel good for you too. Kids do not need grand gestures. They want you to enjoy alongside them. If mall Santas and Black Friday crowds feel like punishment, switch the ritual.

Try:
A holiday walk in the woods with a thermos of hot chocolate
A drive in PJs to look at lights with a “car picnic” dinner
A cozy movie night with everyone piled under blankets

If your ritual leaves you thinking, “Are we having fun yet?” it is time to pivot.

What is one mindset shift you wish every parent could carry into the holiday season to reduce stress and make space for joy?

So many parents spend December overwhelmed by hunting for the “perfect” gift, the “most exciting” gift, or making sure every child has the exact same number of gifts. I have been that parent.

A simple mindset shift is this: start by noticing what your children already love. Instead of searching for something totally new, build on what is already working. Do not Google “hottest toys for four year olds,” because by January those lists often turn into a pile of barely touched toys headed for the thrift store.

Use your child’s current interests as data. If you have a dinosaur loving kid who carries their dinos everywhere, try:
more dinosaur figurines
playdough for creating dinosaur worlds
blocks for building habitats

When you pair their interests with open ended materials like blocks, playdough, and magnetic tiles, those materials keep working long after the dinosaur phase fades. You avoid the toy graveyard and end up with play materials ready for whatever comes next.

And here is the permission slip every parent needs: one “wow” toy plus open ended support. You do not have to choose between magic and longevity.

The new dollhouse can be the “wow,” but the fabric scraps, small blocks, and little people are what keep the dollhouse world growing long after the initial excitement wears off.

The art easel is the “wow,” but the quality paints, interesting paper, and rotating art tools are what make it a daily destination instead of a dust collector.

This shift takes the pressure off you and gives your child a season filled with play, not piles.

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