The holiday season is upon us! It’s a whirlwind of school activities, holiday parties, and crowded stores with long lines and loud noises. In all the hustle and bustle it’s easy for our kids with special needs to become overwhelmed and anxious with all the sensory overload and routine changes.
Our family still experiences a fair share of holiday-related meltdowns, but over the years we have found ways to make the holidays more enjoyable for everyone in the family
We keep it simple. We’ve implemented the concept of “less is more” when it comes to celebrating the winter holidays. From the decorations to the gifts, we tend to keep it minimal for a calmer atmosphere at home.
We pick our battles. I have attempted a couple of cute “matching outfit” holiday photos, but trying to peel a child off the floor because he is having a meltdown over a sensory issue from his clothing is just not worth it to me.
We make an exit plan. After many tries, we’ve resigned ourselves to the fact that having to make a hasty retreat from a public place is always a possibility, so we plan accordingly. We scope out the exits and make sure whatever we bring can be packed up in a hurry.
We do visual schedules. Picture icon or checklist schedules help a lot when we are off of our normal routine. Being able to see what is coming is comforting to our kids, and they love to check off the items on our agenda. Verbal reminders and prompts also work well when it’s time to leave or stop an activity.
As much as we try to make the holiday season more comfortable for our children, it’s also important to remember to care for ourselves as parents:
The holidays are supposed to be relaxing. I used to put pressure on myself to make everything perfect for my kids and then felt like a failure when things didn’t go as planned. Be realistic and reasonable in expectations of yourself. It’s ok to say no to things when you know your plate is already full and to set boundaries to protect your peace. I still struggle with this, but we are all a work in progress, right?
My family wishes you a wonderful, low-stress holiday season and a Happy New Year!
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