Why Play Is the Best Way to Reset After the Holidays

The holidays are magical. They’re also loud, busy, overstimulating, and filled with disrupted routines. And while adults often crave a “fresh start” in January, children don’t reset with planners and goals. They reset with play.

After weeks of different schedules, extra people, travel, late nights, and big emotions, many children return to daily life dysregulated, tired, or testing boundaries. This isn’t a setback. It’s communication.

Play is how children make sense of change.

When children engage in open-ended play, their nervous systems begin to settle. Their bodies slow down. Their brains organize experiences that words can’t yet explain. Play gives children control when life has felt unpredictable. It gives them choice after weeks of being told what comes next.

This is why we don’t rush January.

At MHK Play Studio, January isn’t about “getting kids back in line.” It’s about giving them space to land. You’ll see children revisiting familiar materials, repeating the same play invitations, moving slowly, watching before joining. That repetition is regulation. That observation is learning.

Play after the holidays helps children:

• Rebuild a sense of safety

• Practice decision-making again

• Regain confidence in their bodies and ideas

• Process emotions they may not fully understand yet

Adults often worry that children “should be over it by now.” But development doesn’t follow the calendar. Children don’t need more correction in January. They need connection, predictability, and trust.

When we allow play to lead, routines naturally return. Children begin to take risks again. They problem-solve. They re-engage socially. They find their rhythm.

A true reset isn’t about doing more.
It’s about doing less, more intentionally.

Play is not a break from learning.
Play is how children reset, rebuild, and begin again.

Want a Simple Reminder You Can Keep Handy?

We created a short January Reset resource for families who want an easy, reassuring guide during this transition. It’s designed to be saved on your phone, shared with caregivers, or posted somewhere you’ll see it on those harder mornings.

Inside, you’ll find:

• What to expect after the holidays

• How play supports regulation and routine

• Gentle ways to support your child at home

Download the January Reset Resource here and keep it close as your family settles back into rhythm.

Play doesn’t rush the process. It honors it.