Winter has a way of changing the energy in early childhood classrooms. Days are shorter, outdoor time is often limited, and children (and adults!) tend to crave a little more warmth, comfort, and calm. While we can’t control the weather outside, we can be intentional about how our classroom environments support children’s engagement, regulation, and sense of belonging during the winter months.
The good news? Small, thoughtful changes to lighting, layout, and materials can have a big impact. Decades of research—and the collective wisdom captured in Gryphon House books on environmental design—remind us that the classroom itself is a powerful teacher.
The Environment Sets the Emotional Tone
“Space speaks,” write Duncan, Martin, and Kreth in Rethinking the Classroom Landscape, explaining that classroom environments silently communicate how children are expected to feel, behave, and engage (p. 10). Lighting, furniture arrangement, and visual clutter all influence children’s emotions and energy levels—sometimes more than we realize.
Winter is an ideal time to slow down, soften the environment, and create spaces that invite children to linger, connect, and focus.
Soft Lighting: Creating Islands of Calm
Harsh overhead fluorescent lighting can contribute to overstimulation, fatigue, and irritability—especially during long winter days (Rethinking the Classroom Landscape, pp. 102–103). Instead of relying solely on overhead lights, the authors recommend creating “islands of light” using table lamps, floor lamps, and diffused lighting to match the needs of different activity zones.
Similarly, Inspiring Spaces for Young Children emphasizes that lighting sets the mood in any space and encourages educators to use low-wattage, warm lighting in reading and quiet areas rather than bright, cold bulbs (pp. 179–181). Softer lighting helps create a sense of comfort and emotional safety—something many children need more of in winter.
Winter tweak: Add a lamp to your library area or cozy corner and turn off overhead lights during small-group or quiet play times.
Cozy Nooks: Spaces That Invite Rest and Connection
Children need places where they can retreat, regulate, and connect in smaller groups. In Rethinking the Classroom Landscape, the authors offer numerous examples of cozy gathering spaces—such as couches with blankets, hammocks with pillows, or tucked-away nooks with soft seating—that invite conversation and calm engagement (pp. 96–97).
These spaces are not about “time out” but about creating environments that support children’s emotional needs. As Curated Moments illustrates through Reggio-inspired infant and toddler classrooms, thoughtfully designed cozy spaces help young children feel secure and grounded, encouraging deeper exploration and longer engagement (see chapters on spatial intimacy).
Winter tweak: Layer in blankets, pillows, or soft rugs to existing spaces rather than creating something new from scratch.
Sensory Supports: Helping Children Find Their “Just Right” State
Winter often brings heightened sensory needs—less movement, more time indoors, and increased stimulation from crowded classrooms. The Inclusive Early Childhood Classroom explains how calming sensory input—such as soft seating, gentle rocking, deep pressure, and quiet spaces—can help children regulate their nervous systems and maintain attention (pp. 182–184).
Creating a designated quiet or calming space, even a small one, gives children an option for self-regulation when the classroom feels overwhelming. These supports benefit all children, not just those with identified sensory needs.
Winter tweak: Add a beanbag chair, small tent, or soft cushions to a low-traffic corner and clearly teach children how and when to use the space.
Reduced Clutter: Making Room for Focus and Wonder
Visual clutter can be especially overwhelming during winter when children are already processing a lot indoors. In Through a Child’s Eyes, Haughey, Martin, and Duncan explain that too much visual information leads to frustration, stress, and disengagement (pp. 149–151). Reducing wall clutter, creating white space, and being intentional about displays helps children process information and stay focused.
The authors challenge the “more is better” mindset, encouraging educators to remove excess posters and rotate materials thoughtfully (Through a Child’s Eyes, p. 151). This aligns with Inspiring Spaces for Young Children, which emphasizes balance, simplicity, and intentional design as key elements of a calming classroom (throughout).
Winter tweak: Choose one wall or bulletin board to declutter this month—remove anything that isn’t directly connected to children’s current learning or identities.
A Seasonal Reset That Supports Learning
Winter doesn’t require a complete classroom overhaul. As these books remind us, small, intentional environmental changes can transform how children experience the space—and how they experience learning.
When we soften the light, create cozy places, support sensory needs, and clear visual noise, we’re not just decorating for winter. We’re designing environments that honor children’s need for comfort, connection, and calm—exactly when they need it most.
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