Festive Season Safeguarding: Celebrations Without Compromising Safety
Festive events are brilliant for community and belonging — but they also create predictable safeguarding pressure points: busy spaces, blurred boundaries, heightened emotion, and lots of “extras” (food, gifts, visitors, photos). Where do we begin?
- Nativity plays and performances,
- Parties,
- Gift-giving boundaries,
- Food safety,
- Religious sensitivity,
- Managing excitement, and
- Preventing accidents during busy periods.
With so much to cover how can you make it fun for everyone?
Are your Christmas events joyful… and still properly safe?
December can feel like a safeguarding “free pass” because everyone’s in a good mood. But safeguarding doesn’t pause for Claus.
In fact, festive events often increase risk because:
- Routines change
- Venues get crowded
- Visitors and volunteers appear
- Children are more excitable (and less regulated)
- Staff are tired and stretched
If you're organising the Christmas Lights switch on, there's going to be a lot of parents and children, which often means a lot of buggies and prams. What are the entry exit points, is there space for all the buggies? What if the worst happens and people have to evacuate the area swiftly, are people able do to that?
The goal is simple: keep the magic, remove the avoidable risk.
The goal is simple: keep the magic, remove the avoidable risk.
1) Nativity plays and carol performances: safeguarding behind the scenes
Performances are high-energy, high-traffic events — and most issues happen off-stage.
Practical controls that actually work:
- Backstage supervision plan: who is responsible for which group, and where are the “no-go” spaces?
- Changing arrangements: avoid unsupervised changing; use clear, gender-sensitive and age-appropriate arrangements.
- Visitor flow: separate audience areas from children’s waiting areas with plenty of space near entrances, consider a one way system because buggies are not that much different to cars. It can get very congested very quickly.
- Photo/video rules: set expectations early (and stick to them).
If you’re using digital safeguarding records, log any low-level concerns (e.g., repeated boundary pushing by an adult, persistent attempts to access restricted areas). Bottle necks that not only cause a risk but also attendee satisfaction.
2) Parties and celebrations: the “busy period” accident spike
Most festive safeguarding incidents are not malicious — they’re accidental.
Common accident triggers:
- Cluttered rooms and trailing wires
- Games that escalate too fast
- Overcrowding and poor movement routes
- Hot drinks in the wrong place
Simple fixes:
- Do a 5-minute “hazard sweep” before children enter
- Keep walkways wide, clear, one way (assume everyone has a buggy) and tape down cables
- Assign one adult to monitor “energy level” and step in early
- Plan calm-down moments (quiet table, colouring, story corner)
3) Gift-giving boundaries: keep it kind, keep it clear
Gift-giving can blur boundaries quickly.
- No 1:1 gifts from adults to individual children
- Gifts are given openly (group setting)
- No gifts that create a “special relationship”
- Staff don’t accept personal gifts from children/families beyond agreed policy as this can make other children feel pressured or left out.
If a family wants to show appreciation, suggest alternatives:
- A card to the team
- A donation to the club/school/charity
- A shared box of biscuits for the staffroom
4) Food safety: allergies, cross-contamination, and “treat culture”
Festive food is a safeguarding issue because mistakes can be serious.
- Allergy lists being up to date and visible to the right staff
- Labelling of homemade items (or avoiding them)
- Cross-contamination (shared utensils, buffet tables)
- Choking risks for younger children
Practical tip: assign one adult as food lead for the event — not to do everything, but to keep oversight.
5) Religious sensitivity: inclusion without assumptions
December events can unintentionally exclude individuals or groups
- Avoid assumptions about what families celebrate
- Offer inclusive language (“festive”, “winter celebration”) where appropriate
- Provide opt-in/opt-out choices without singling children out
- Ensure costumes and activities are culturally respectful
Inclusion is part of safeguarding: children feel safer when they feel they belong.
6) Managing excitement: behaviour is communication
Festive excitement can look like:
- Impulsivity and rough play
- Tears and overwhelm
- Conflict over games, sweets, or attention - and that's just the adults!
Practical regulation supports:
- Clear start-of-event expectations (“how we keep each other safe today”)
- Predictable structure (what happens next)
- Calm spaces and sensory breaks
- Extra support for children with additional needs
Quick quiz: festive safeguarding
1. Where do most safeguarding issues occur during performances?
- A) On stage
- B) Behind the scenes (waiting areas, corridors, changing spaces)
- C) In the car park
2. What’s a strong approach to gift-giving boundaries?
- A) Allow 1:1 gifts if they’re small
- B) Ban all gifts for ease and simplicity
- C) Keep gifts open, group-based, and policy-led to avoid “special relationships”
3. Why is food safety part of safeguarding?
- A) Allergy and choking risks
- B) It’s not — it’s just admin
- C) Only schools need to worry about it
Answer key: 1) B 2) C 3) A
Q&A: Safeguarding during festive events
Q1: Can we allow parents to take photos at Christmas events?
Yes, if you have a clear policy, communicate it in advance, and manage it consistently.
Q2: What are the biggest safeguarding risks during Christmas parties?
Crowding, accidents, boundary drift, and reduced supervision due to busy routines.
Q3: How do we manage photo/video safely without killing the atmosphere?
Make it simple and proactive.
- Communicate rules before the event (email + signage)
- Define where photos are allowed (e.g., from seats only)
- Prohibit filming in changing areas (explicitly)
- Have a staff member ready to challenge politely
- Provide an official photo option where possible
It’s not about being strict for the sake of it — it’s about protecting children’s privacy and preventing images being shared inappropriately.
Q4: How do we keep events inclusive for families who don’t celebrate Christmas?
Use inclusive language, offer choice, and avoid putting children on the spot. Inclusion supports wellbeing and safety.
Q5: What should we record if something feels “off” during an event?
Record factual observations and actions:
- What you saw/heard (verbatim where relevant)
- Time, location, and who was present
- What you did immediately
- Who you reported to and when
- Any follow-up actions
Consistent safeguarding software and digital safeguarding records help you spot patterns across events — especially around boundary issues, repeated late collection, or concerning adult behaviour.
Quick checklist: festive event safeguarding
- One-page event plan (roles, zones, escalation)
- Photo/video rules communicated and enforced
- Gift-giving boundaries clear and consistent
- Food safety lead assigned; allergy controls tightened
- Calm space and regulation supports planned
- Incidents and low-level concerns recorded promptly