The holiday season is often described as the most wonderful time of the year. But for many children, it can also be one of the most overwhelming.
Whether a child is separated from family, adjusting to a new living situation, or simply struggling with the sensory overload that comes with busy gatherings and disrupted routines, this time of year can bring a wave of emotions that little ones aren’t yet equipped to process on their own.
According to a recent CBS News report, children’s hospitals are seeing increased depression and anxiety during the holiday season. The numbers are sobering: almost 20% of children in the United States now have a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder. These statistics remind us that the children in our care, whether at home, in clinics, or in hospitals, need our attention now more than ever.
I think of a moment last December that has stayed with me. I was working alongside a Child Life Specialist at a children’s hospital when we met a seven-year-old girl named Lily*. She had been admitted for treatment and would be spending the holidays away from her family’s home. Her mother could only visit in the evenings after work, and Lily’s anxiety was palpable. She wouldn’t eat. She barely spoke. She sat curled up in her bed, clutching a stuffed panda bear and staring at the window.
The Child Life Specialist had tried art and play, crayons, puzzles, games, but Lily remained withdrawn. That’s when I knelt beside her bed and noticed how tightly she held that panda.
“It looks like your panda might be feeling a little worried too,” I said softly. “Would you like me to show you how to help them feel calm?”
Lily looked at me for the first time. She nodded.
I gently guided her small hands, showing her how to use slow, firm-pressure techniques along the panda’s back. I explained that this kind of gentle touch can help the body relax and feel safe. Lily listened carefully, her brow furrowed in concentration as she practiced on her stuffed friend. For several minutes, she focused entirely on caring for her panda, smoothing its fur, cradling it close, whispering that everything would be okay.
When she finished, she looked up at me with quiet eyes and asked, “Can you do that on my back? And maybe tell me a story?”
I smiled and began slow, nurturing touch along her shoulders, matching the rhythm of a gentle story I told about a brave little panda who found comfort in the quietest moments. Within minutes, Lily’s shoulders dropped. Her breathing slowed. The tension she had been carrying seemed to melt away.
When I finished, she looked up and whispered, “That feels like my mom.”
In that moment, I was reminded why this work matters so deeply. By first empowering Lily to offer comfort to her panda, she discovered that she had the ability to help someone else feel safe, and that opened the door for her to receive that same comfort herself. Touch Therapy doesn’t replace a parent’s presence, but it can offer connection and a sense of safety when children need it most.
The holidays amplify everything. Joy feels bigger, but so does loneliness. Excitement is heightened, but so is anxiety. Children who are already navigating challenges, illness, family transitions, grief, sensory sensitivities, often find this season particularly difficult.
As parents, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, we have an opportunity to offer children something simple yet powerful: intentional, nurturing touch. A few minutes of gentle massage to the hands, feet, or back can help regulate the nervous system. Watching for signs of overwhelm, irritability, clinginess, stomach aches, and responding with connection rather than redirection can make all the difference.
Touch Therapy is not a luxury. It is a tool for healing. And during a season that asks so much of our children, it may be exactly what they need to feel held, seen, and supported.
Whether you’re comforting your own child or supporting a young patient through a difficult hospital stay, Touch Therapy can make a profound difference. Explore our free eBook resource below to get started. And when you’re ready for the full guide, everything I taught Lily that day and beyond, A Modern Guide to Massage for Children is available online – just in time for the holidays!
*name changed to protect privacy
