As the holiday spirit fills the air, Christmas and New Year's offer wonderful opportunities for families to bond. From visits with Santa to community holiday festivals, this time of year is filled with magical moments. However, these joyous occasions can also bring specific challenges for children on the spectrum.
Sensory-friendly holiday experiences
The holidays don’t have to be overwhelming with a little preparation. Here are some sensory-friendly holiday activities designed with autistic children in mind:
- Drive-thru holiday lights: If loud noises are overwhelming, opt for quieter alternatives, such as a drive-thru Christmas light show. Pair the outing with holiday-themed music and snacks for a sensory-friendly adventure without having to leave the car.
- Caring Santa at Simon Malls: Dozens of Simon Mall locations across the U.S. offer the Caring Santa program, a calm and welcoming Santa photo experience designed for children with autism spectrum disorder and other sensory needs.
- Make pretend “snow.” You can create sensory-friendly snow at home using baking soda and shaving cream. For added fun, you can use ice cubes to build igloos.
- Build a blanket fort. Grab cozy blankets and build a blanket fort. You can decorate it with Christmas lights and read your favorite holiday stories. Pair the experience with hot chocolate!
- Set up a sensory bin: To transform craft time into a festive adventure, fill a sensory bin with holiday-inspired treasures, such as dried rice, colorful beans, sparkly ornaments, faux snow, or playdough scented with peppermint or cinnamon.
- Do holiday crafts: Let your child’s creativity shine with simple projects like crafting paper snowflakes, turning pinecones into glittery decorations, or designing heartfelt holiday cards.
These activities are just a starting point for creating magical holiday moments in ways that suit your child’s needs. But planning autism-friendly activities is just one part of making the holidays more manageable and enjoyable for your family.
Tips for a smoother holiday season
To ensure these fun events go as smoothly as possible, consider these additional strategies. Small adjustments to routines and preparations can help keep your child with autism feeling safe and calm during this busy time of year:
- Communicate expectations with family members: Proactively explain your child’s needs to family and friends who will interact with them this holiday season. While you can’t control every social interaction, setting expectations ahead of time and being prepared to intervene when necessary can help alleviate potential challenges.
- Have an escape plan: If you’re planning to visit a public place, identify a safe and quiet space where your child can retreat if the experience becomes overwhelming. If you aren’t sure about available options, call ahead to prepare.
- Bring comfort items: Pack familiar comfort items like fidget toys or stuffed animals to help your child stay calm. Noise-canceling headphones or sunglasses can also help minimize sensory overload.
- Be prepared: If you have a child with autism or sensory needs, you know how important routines are for helping them feel safe and calm. Even if your child is doing well with applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, changing their routine can still be difficult. The holidays may bring some surprises, but keeping things as familiar as possible can help your child feel more comfortable and enjoy the season.
Parents, with some planning, these sensory-friendly strategies, and plenty of patience, you can create a holiday season filled with memorable moments. Remember, the holidays are for your child just as much as they are for anyone else’s. Your celebration may look different, but that is what makes your family uniquely special.
Children displayed in this blog post are not associated with our ABA services. At Action Behavior Centers, we strive to provide compassionate care for children on the autism spectrum. We believe that early Intervention can be a great foundation in building a brighter future with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. ABC is committed to getting your child started as soon as possible because every moment counts.