by Maggie Meyer, Keshet Social Worker
One of my roles as a social worker in Keshet’s High School and Transition Program is to support students’ social-emotional growth and help them develop strategies for regulation and well-being. The winter months can be a challenging time—changes in routines, weather and daylight can affect how students feel and engage in daily activities. I have the unique opportunity to work closely with students to help them build coping skills and strategies that support their success throughout the school day and beyond.
In December, I worked alongside Ally Abbinanti, Keshet Occupational Therapist, and Lexy Abbinanti, Keshet Speech & Language Pathologist, to focus our monthly related services group on “Beating the Winter Blues.” Together, we designed activities and discussions to help students understand how seasonal changes can impact their daily functioning. Our goal was to provide students with practical tools to stay regulated, engaged and emotionally supported throughout the school day and at home.
Students began by reviewing a social story on “Beating the Winter Blues,” which helped them recognize how seasonal changes may affect their emotions and behavior. From there, we engaged in structured group discussions, shared preferences for indoor activities and practiced age-appropriate self-care strategies. Hands-on activities, including creating “snow globe” sensory bottles and tactile texture boards, supported sensory regulation, fine-motor development, expressive communication and self-awareness.
Throughout the experience, students demonstrated creativity, collaboration and strong engagement. They developed personalized toolkits—collections of their own coping strategies and resources to help them remain calm and regulated during the winter months. These skills not only support emotional well-being but also help students stay focused and participate fully in academic and social activities.
It’s important that our students know resources and support are always available and that they can use the strategies and tools we’ve practiced whenever they need them. By combining social-emotional learning with hands-on sensory activities and support from our related services team, we help students navigate the winter season successfully, building skills they can carry with them all year long.
Beating the Winter Blues Social Story
