A post that offers 10 ways to make the holidays easier for children from years ago stands the test of time with great advice for parents.
The holidays can be challenging for children with developmental or cognitive delays, social anxiety, or sensory processing disorder. Changes in routine, new foods, sounds, and textures are a challenge, but planning can prevent many problems:
1. Try to keep your child in their usual routine as much as possible.
2. Sensory overstimulation — the lights, sounds, smells, and even the relatives who want to hug your child — are the main culprits during the holidays. Eliminating or minimizing these culprits are your best bet. Plus, you may want to talk to your family about how to greet your child when they arrive, too.
3. Instead of limiting the holiday decorations, some families who have children with autism or other neuropsychological disorders wait until Christmas Eve to put up their tree and decorate.
4. Some families let their children with autism or other neuropsychological disorders do all of the decorating. Children with autism or other neuropsychological disorders may line up or stack decorations rather than decorate traditionally, but so what. Let them enjoy the activity in their own way.
5. Rather than try to do Christmas shopping with children with autism or other neuropsychological disorders in a crowded, noisy mall, many families shop by catalog or online and let the child point to or circle the toys they want. Websites, such as www.stars4kidz.com, offer a variety of toys for children with autism or other neuropsychological disorders. Just type “autism toys” in your search engine.
6. Tactile toys are often a better choice for children with autism or other neuropsychological disorders. Toys that make sounds, involve too much stimulation, or are too complex may not cause an aversive reaction in the child. As I mentioned above, there are websites that sell toys designed for children with autism or other neuropsychological disorders. Try ordering some of these toys, and then let your child select the ones to play with as they are unwrapped.
7. Talk to relatives before they come over about the best way to behave with children with autism or other neuropsychological disorders. Have them read my article, “What Horses Tell Us About Autism,” which is available for free on this website.
8. Generally, kids with autism or other neuropsychological disorders do better in the morning than in the late afternoon or evening when they are tired. It may be better to schedule Christmas events at these times.
9. The parents of children with autism or other neuropsychological disorders need to relax too. Often, the child with autism picks up on the parents’ stress, which is enough to ruin Christmas.
10. Last but not least, realize that you will probably not have perfect food, decorations, and gifts. Christmas with children with autism or other neuropsychological disorders may not be traditional, but it can still have real meaning. (Sometimes I wonder if children with autism or other neuropsychological disorders know that Christmas has become too commercial.)
AZ+A knows that therapeutic activity and socialization are essential – even in the midst of the hectic holiday season. Our Winter Camp and Holiday Baking Intensive offer children connection, emotional regulation, and sensory play. Hope to see you there!