Sensory-Friendly Festivities to Make the Holidays Merry and Bright For Kids
PETERBOROUGH, ON (Dec. 5, 2023) – The holidays can be anything but holly and jolly for some families, especially if their child is extra sensitive to noise, texture, new situations, or changes in routine.
But according to a Five Counties Children’s Centre therapist, happy holidays are still within the grasp of kids who are neurodivergent or have sensory-processing differences. “You can still celebrate the holidays, but it may mean doing so in slightly different ways,” says Ashley Parsons, an Occupational Therapist at Five Counties. “Helping your child cope with new situations, stick to a schedule and avoid becoming overwhelmed is the best gift you can give them this holiday season.”
The recipe from Five Counties to create holiday magic for families includes these ingredients.
Practice Makes Perfect
“Involving children in all aspects of planning for the holidays is a good investment in time,” Parsons says. “You are helping them to adapt to plans and manage expectations.” Visual tools can be helpful, such as:
Calendars to mark events and count down the days with kids.
Photos, maps or videos that are good visuals to help prepare children for where and with whom they may visit over the holidays.
Let’s Be Social
Creating a “social story” benefits kids, as it can helps them respond or interact in social settings. Social stories give details about a setting/visit, what happens there, and what actions or behaviour are expected. “Social stories should be specific to a child and use simple, encouraging words to answer the where, when, who, what, how, and why of situations,” Parsons says. ‘Social’ etiquette can also extend to others:
Share details about your child to help loved ones understand what to expect. Be open and honest.
Offer strategies to families and friends on how they can reduce anxiety or stress with your child. For example, ask them to avoid open-ended questions that may confuse or cause discomfort.
Share potential triggers that could cause your child to become upset (like being hugged).
Stress to loved ones the importance of remaining calm and neutral to avoid outbursts.
Don’t Deck All the Halls
Cutting back on decorations can help some kids, as can involving them in the decorating process:
Pull out pictures from previous holiday seasons to help children visualize what’s planned.
Use a step-by-step approach. Set up the tree one day, but wait until the next to do more decorating.
Once decorations are up, set clear rules about what can and can’t be touched. For kids who benefit from movement, find a place they can move that’s free of decorations or clutter that could break.
Turn off decorations that unexpectedly make noise to avoid stressing kids with sound sensitivities.
Presents of Mind
The holidays often involve gift-giving, which can fuel excitement and may overwhelm some kids. Parsons encourages “presents of mind” to ease the anxiety:
Practise opening gifts with a child. Show them how to take turns and wait for others.
Prepare your child for receiving a gift they may not like. To avoid problems, make a list with your child of realistic items he or she wants for the holidays and share them with family members.
Help children manage their interest in a gift to avoid it becoming an obsession. Consider a five-forfive swap: Give a child five stickers they can exchange for talking about the gift for five minutes.
Stick to Routine
“Many children thrive on routine, so it’s important to create a sense of calm and stability during the hustle and bustle of the holidays,” says Parsons. She encourages families to try the following:
Have a back-up plan if holiday visits or festivities become too much for a child. Develop a ‘break card’ or hand gesture that a child can use to say they need a break or want to be on their own.
Work with your holiday host to find a pre-determined quiet space for your child to de-stress.
If a child needs to leave a social situation or setting, take them to a quiet spot. Rub their back, play soft music, or turn down lights to help calm them.
Have headphones with songs or stories that a child can wear to drown out noises.
Take familiar items like a favourite book, toy, game or activity to help children manage anxiety.
Food for Thought
Food is part of many festivities but may not go over well with all kids. Parsons makes these suggestions to boost holiday meal appeal:
Have your child’s favourite or familiar foods on hand for dinner, either by bringing it yourself or ensuring some will be served during the holiday meal. This is especially important for those children who have food allergies or require special diets.
Find a quiet area where a child can go to eat on their own if mealtime with others is too much.
For media inquiries, contact:
Bill Eekhof, Communications Coordinator, Five Counties Children’s Centre, 705-875-7408, or 1-888-779- 9916, ext. 200, beekhof@fivecounties.on.ca
