Winter Break and Snow Days: How to Maintain Gains with SM During Downtime
When supporting children with Selective Mutism (SM), many families notice steady progress during the school year—routine, predictable exposures, and familiar adults often help children build momentum. But breaks from school, including winter vacation and unexpected snow days, can disrupt that progress. Without regular opportunities to practice communication, children may experience a temporary increase in anxiety when routines resume. With some thoughtful planning, however, these breaks can become meaningful opportunities to maintain (and even strengthen) gains.
Downtime naturally reduces speaking demands, which can be both a relief and a challenge. Without daily practice, children may slip back into avoidance or rely more heavily on nonverbal communication. To help maintain progress, it’s useful to build small, low-pressure opportunities for brave talking into the break. These might include chatting with extended family members the child already speaks to, practicing simple exchanges in familiar community settings, or maintaining speech with trusted peers through short playdates or video calls. The goal is not to recreate school at home, but rather to keep the child’s “bravery muscles” active with manageable, meaningful interactions.
Structured playdates can be especially helpful during longer breaks. As with any exposure, planning is key. Choose a peer who is patient, kind, and not likely to speak on the child’s behalf, and set specific but realistic goals—such as responding to a greeting, asking a simple question during a game, or sharing a story about something fun they’ve done over break. Hosting playdates in familiar environments, like the child’s home, reduces anxiety and increases the likelihood of verbal participation. Snow days provide opportunities too; even brief interactions with a neighbor while sledding or building a snowman can support generalization of skills.
Parents can also look for natural moments at home and in the community to encourage brave speech. Asking forced-choice questions (“Do you want cocoa or tea?”), doing collaborative activities that require small verbal exchanges, or having the child help order takeout from a familiar restaurant can all support continued progress. These interactions should remain relaxed and enjoyable—never high-pressure or overly focused on performance. The intention is simply to keep communication flowing steadily.
As the break comes to an end, it can be helpful to slowly reintroduce school-like routines. Visiting the school playground, walking the hallways during a quiet time, or having the child speak briefly with a familiar teacher can ease the transition back. Even reviewing upcoming schedules or talking through expected routines helps reduce anticipatory anxiety. Small steps ahead of time can make the return feel smoother and more predictable.
Winter breaks and snow days don’t have to derail progress—in fact, they can strengthen it. By weaving simple, positive communication opportunities into everyday moments, families can help children with SM maintain their bravery, confidence, and momentum. With warmth, planning, and patience, these quieter months can support continued growth long after the snow melts.