Month: November 2023

While many of us look forward to the twinkle of holiday lights, the serenade of familiar Christmas songs, and the scent of warm pumpkin pie or fresh pine branches, these same things can present unique and real challenges to children with sensory issues.  Recognizing and respecting these sensitivities is an important first step. With a little foresight and planning, families can create a sensory-friendly holiday season that allows everyone to enjoy the festivities.

1. Plan Ahead
You can minimize surprises and create a more predictable environment by sharing your holiday schedule with your child and discussing any potential changes or events. This can help reduce anxiety and provide a sense of structure.

It’s also a good idea to educate relatives and guests about your child’s sensory sensitivities. Share information about what may trigger discomfort and provide guidance on how to interact with your child. A little understanding can go a long way in creating a supportive and inclusive holiday environment.

2. Manage Lighting, Decorations and Noise Levels
Bright lights and flashy decorations are integral to holiday celebrations, but they can be intense for children with sensory sensitivities. Consider using soft, ambient lighting and opting for simpler, less overwhelming decorations. Dimmer switches or adjustable lights can also provide more control over the environment.

Holiday gatherings can also be noisy affairs, with music, laughter, and conversations filling the air. Consider encouraging breaks in a quiet space, or providing noise-canceling headphones, earplugs or headphones with preferred music to help manage auditory stimulation.

3. Incorporate Sensory-Friendly Activities
Choose holiday activities that cater to your child’s sensory needs. Whether it’s a quiet craft, baking cookies, or listening to calming music, find activities that bring joy without overwhelming sensory input. Involve your child in the planning process to ensure their preferences are considered.

4. Be Mindful of Foods/Smells
Holiday feasts often involve a variety of foods, some of which may be challenging for children with sensory issues. If necessary, bring familiar snacks or dishes to holiday gatherings to ensure your child has options they are comfortable with. If strange smells are difficult, bring along something familiar, like a scented lotion or lip balm, to override them.

5. Create a Quiet Space:
Designate a quiet, calm space where your child can retreat if the holiday festivities become overwhelming. Equip this space with comforting items like soft blankets, noise-canceling headphones, or fidget toys. Encourage your child to use this space whenever they feel the need to regroup.

Creating a sensory-friendly holiday season requires thoughtful planning and consideration. But by understanding sensitivities and implementing these strategies, you can foster an environment where everyone in the family can enjoy the magic of the holidays!

There’s no doubt the upcoming weeks of the holiday season can be filled with glad tidings and joy. But if you have a child with Sensory Processing Disorder, the days off from school, numerous outings, and a lack of structure can also lead to a season of chaos, outbursts and frustration.

Our staff has put together the following action points to help your child regulate and your family engage in his or her development as the New Year approaches.

• Preparation is key! Remember to use antecedent strategies prior to transitions or non-preferred activities (holiday parties, meeting Santa, etc.). These may include:
  • Telling your child what to expect. Ex: “We will go to Aunt Kelly’s house for one hour and see your three cousins.”
  • Teaching/reminding your child how to request a break.  
  • Providing fidgets or having preferred items available. 
  • Delivering behavior-specific praise for appropriate behavior in these settings. Ex: “You did a great job staying in your seat during the song.”
  • Provide choices whenever possible. Ex: “Do you want to walk or ride in the cart? Do you want to sit on Santa’s lap or stand next to him?”
  • Give clear and concise instructions. Ex: “Time to ride in the cart” instead of “I want you to ride in the cart because it’s really busy and I don’t want you to get lost.” 
  • Remove question verbiage Ex: “Time to get in the cart” instead of “Are you ready to get in the cart?”
  • Use first/then verbiage with non-preferred/preferred activities. Ex: “First we will put on our jackets and then we will go outside.”
• Engage in social routines to facilitate language development.  Ex:  “Where is the Elf on the shelf?”
• Model core vocabulary and fringe words on your child’s system throughout holiday activities such as decorating the Christmas tree.
• Play describing games with holiday characters.  Ex: “Guess who has a red nose and flies?”
• Communicate holiday gifts or “wants” by all forms of communication. Ex: “I want ___” or “I like___.”
• Engage in conversations about holiday activities or read holiday stories.
• Sing holiday songs; repeated lines may be able to be programmed on AAC devices so that everyone can join in and sing along.
• Plan daily schedules or routines, and adapt them visually as needed. Try using the “Notes” app on your phone to make a list that can be checked off as things as completed. Use Google Images to find pictures of experiences or places for younger children to follow. Or carry a pad of paper and make stick figures if you need to!
• Plan holiday outfits in advance or consider letting your child help pick out her outfit. The cutest holiday sweater will be a bust if she over responds to how it feels!
• Honor all forms of communication, including words, communicative gestures, manual signs, and AAC devices.
• Bring preferred food options to assure a favorite accepted food remains available across situations. Does it really matter if your child eats turkey or chicken nuggets?

Finally, keep an eye out for sensory friendly holiday experiences. Here’s a great resource from our friends at University of Illinois College of Medicine!