The holidays are a time for joy, family, and delicious meals! But for children with ASD or other sensitivities, the hustle and bustle of the festive season can be overwhelming.

As you plan festive gatherings, house makeovers, and holiday traditions, it’s important to support your child during these busy times. After all, holidays involve many changes that could make them uncomfortable such as:

• Schedule changes – Routines are important for children with ASD. Holiday disruptions like late nights, altered meal times, and travel can cause anxieties and meltdowns.
• Sensory Overload – Unfamiliar people, bright lights, new decorations, loud conversations, and even physical contact (from relatives visiting) can be an uncomfortable experience when your child is not fully prepared.

However, with a little planning and preparation, you can help your child have a happy and stress-free holiday season. Here are some tips and activities to get you started:

Before the Holiday

Social Stories

Create social stories explaining upcoming events like family gatherings, travel plans, or changes in routine. Use simple language and pictures to illustrate what to expect. For example, create a social story about a visit to Grandma’s house. Include pictures of familiar faces, the layout of the house, and typical activities that might happen during the visit, like opening presents or playing a board game.

Visual Schedule

Having a visual aid rather than just outlining your schedule is a great way to help your child understand the flow of the upcoming holiday activities and traditions. Use pictures or icons to create a schedule outlining the sequence of events, including travel time, meal breaks, and planned activities. Have visuals for all the activities even seemingly trivial ones like waking up, getting dressed, eating meals, and going to bed.

Show pictures

If you have relatives visiting, or you’re planning to visit one, show their pictures beforehand to your child. Talk about who they are and what they might be like, so your child will know what to expect and become more familiar with the faces. For example, “This is your Aunt May, she’s your dad’s sister. She’s very jolly and will be very happy to play with you if you want.”

Research quiet hours

When planning outings, research if stores, libraries, or museums offer sensory-friendly hours with reduced lighting, noise levels, and smaller crowds. Many institutions are becoming more inclusive and cater to children with sensory sensitivities. (If you’re from New Jersey, check out our blog about sensory-friendly places you can go to!)

If there are specific attractions that you want to visit, research ahead of time as well for their typical crowd patterns and plan your visits during off-peak hours. This will help you avoid overwhelming your child with crowds and long lines.

Roleplay

Practice social situations that might arise during gatherings, like greeting relatives or asking for a break. If there are unfamiliar holiday traditions that your child doesn’t know about, you can also use roleplay to introduce them. For example, if your family has a tradition of exchanging gifts you can roleplay how your child should politely receive and open a present after everyone gets theirs.

Communicate with family

Let visiting family members know about your child’s sensory sensitivities beforehand. Explain what signs to look for if your child is getting overwhelmed, and let them know it’s okay to give your child space if they need it. By communicating openly and honestly with family members, you can help them understand and support your child’s sensory needs. This will help create a more inclusive and enjoyable holiday experience for everyone.

During Holiday

Be ready with calming items

Have a sensory kit filled with fidget toys, noise-canceling headphones, visual books, chewing gum, or comfort items like your child’s favorite stuffed animal at the ready while celebrating the holiday. These items can help your child self-regulate whenever they start to feel overwhelmed.

Take a break

Establish a signal with your child whenever they need a break from all the stimulation. This could be a word, a hand gesture, or a picture they can show you. When your child uses the signal, calmly excuse yourselves from the situation and find a quiet space to relax. It’s also important to assign or identify a designated space to do quiet time beforehand.

Stay Flexible!

Things won’t always go according to plan even on holidays, and that’s okay! Be prepared to adjust your schedule or activities if your child is feeling overwhelmed. It’s more important for your child to feel safe and comfortable than to stick to a rigid holiday plan.

If you have any questions or concerns about how to support your child, feel free to message us!