Naughty and Nice: Understanding Holiday Behavior Through a DBT Lens
The holiday season often brings a noticeable shift in student behavior.
Educators report more emotional outbursts, withdrawal, impulsivity, and difficulty focusing — alongside moments of kindness, generosity, and connection. These mixed behaviors are often labeled as either “naughty” or “nice.”
From a DBT in Schools perspective, this framing misses what’s actually happening.
Both can be true at the same time.
This is the foundation of dialectical thinking, a core concept in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
Why Student Behavior Changes During the Holidays
Winter break disrupts many of the systems that help students stay regulated. Common contributors include:
changes in daily routines
less exposure to sunlight
increased screen time
altered sleep schedules
heightened family stress
reduced access to school-based supports
For some students, these factors contribute to seasonal mood changes, including symptoms associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
When emotional demands increase and coping skills are stretched, behavior changes. In DBT, this is not viewed as defiance — it is viewed as communication.
Moving Beyond “Naughty or Nice” Thinking
DBT challenges binary thinking and instead teaches a both/and approach.
A student can be dysregulated and trying their best.
A child can show challenging behavior and still want to do well.
A behavior can be inappropriate and understandable in context.
This shift matters because how we interpret behavior determines how we respond.
Labeling behavior shuts down curiosity. Understanding behavior opens the door to skill-building.
Holiday breaks highlight an important truth:
students need skills they can use outside the classroom.
That’s why DBT in Schools focuses on:
helping students notice emotions without judgment
teaching coping strategies that work in real life
reinforcing gratitude without forcing positivity
normalizing mixed emotions during transitions
To support students during winter break, we created Winter Wellness Activity Workbooks for elementary learners (K–2 and Grades 3–5).
These screen-free resources help students:
understand why emotions can feel bigger in winter
learn developmentally appropriate coping strategies
practice mindfulness and reflection at home
explore seasonal mood changes, including SAD, in a reassuring way
This season, students don’t need to be “naughty” or “nice.”
They need to be understood and equipped with skills that help them navigate big feelings during seasonal change.
