The holiday season is known for heightened activity, peak excitement, and the joy of connecting with loved ones. While it is a time of relaxation for many, it can also stir up unique challenges for neurodiverse children.
The festivities associated with the holidays can become overly stimulating or overwhelming, especially if there are a lot of changes in their familiar environments.
As a parent, caregiver, or teacher of children on the spectrum, here are some proven tips to help you navigate this active season so you can provide a supportive and more relaxing environment for your kids.
Prevent Sensory Overload
Bright lights, music, crowds, and colorful decor usually accompany the holiday season. This can be overwhelming for children who have sensory sensitivity. To minimize sensory overload, reduce their exposure to loud sounds and intense or flashing lights. As a parent, you can do this by using minimal home decorations.
If you can’t help their exposure to the bubble that comes with the holiday season, consider introducing them to it gradually. Gradual exposure gives them time to adjust to the festivities and get used to the stimulation that comes with them. That’s how you can prevent meltdowns and keep them comfortable.
Have a Schedule or Activity Plan
Having a schedule or a routine helps to prevent stress for autistic children or neurodiverse kids. Unpredictability can become stressful or trigger anxiety, and this can disrupt your entire plan for the holidays at that moment.
To make things go smoothly, create a pictorial schedule using simple design tools like Canva, to help them understand what they can expect during the holiday season. The predictability reduces the possibility of anxiety while you go about your day.
Additional tips:
- Break your day down into simple activities like lunch, rest, movies, visiting friends, or shopping.
- Assign specific time for rest or time-outs from activities.
Have an Assigned Safe Space
While the festivities are going on, it’s important to create a safe space where your child can retreat when things get too overwhelming. Prepare a soft corner in the house or classroom with pillows and some of their favorite things so they can take a break in that corner and regulate when necessary. The safe zone can have these;
- A weighted blanket
- Headphones connected to calming music
- Sensory Fidgets
Remember to communicate with your friends and family about this safe space so they don’t intrude during downtime.
Prepare Familiar Foods
The festive season involves new recipes and a lot of unfamiliar dishes, and this can trigger anxiety for children with ADHD or autism. If your child already has a solid preference, stick to it and introduce new dishes gradually to see how they will respond.
Have their preferred dish or snack on standby when introducing them to something new so that even if they reject it, there will be something for them to fall back on. It’s normal for children on the spectrum to be picky with their food, so try to avoid pressuring them into trying something new.
Communicate
We cannot emphasize enough the importance of open communication with neurodiverse children. Ask them what they need, let them know your plans involving them, and help them feel comfortable when they need to speak to you.
If your child is not able to use verbal communication, you should create a signal that they can use to communicate when they are in distress or need something. This is necessary, especially when you’re out of their familiar space. Ask them questions like;
- Is the music too loud?
- Do you want me to turn down the volume?
- Do you need to take a break from the activity?
Questions like this give room for straightforward answers.
Supporting your neurodiverse children is the key to having a smooth holiday season. Set realistic goals and manage your expectations as you plan for the holidays because no holiday is perfect. Celebrate the little wins and enjoy the moment with them. Managing holiday stress for neurodiverse children can be easy if you follow these simple steps.