We’re soon embarking on the holiday season! Although this time of year can bring familial joy and opportunities for community, it can also be a stressful trial for our autistic loved ones. Family gatherings can cause severe disruptions in comforting routines and often involves travel to unfamiliar environments. This month, Connec-to-Talk is exploring how we can better ensure an accessible and sensory friendly holiday season for children!

There is safety in the reliability of routines. The breaking of those routines can create feelings of instability and heighten fears for children. The holidays can bring on unfamiliar scents, sounds, even colors, which can prove overwhelming in excess. We’ve provided some recommendations below to help:

• Visual Schedules
  • If you anticipate needing to travel this November or December, creating a calendar of events is a great way to prepare your child for upcoming changes! 
  • Explaining an upcoming event once might not be enough for your child to gain the confidence they need to embrace the change. Having several weeks to prepare provides time to overcome shock and hopefully encourage excitement.

• Ensure a Quiet Space
  • If you’ll be hosting family and friends at home, be sure your child understands that they can go to their room for some quiet time if the group gatherings become too much. Although family time is important, it can’t come at the expense of the child’s comfort level. 
  • No access to a private or a quiet room? That’s OK! This is an instance where noise cancelling headphones can work wonders. 
    • Many autistic children struggle with auditory processing challenges. It can make it extremely challenging to filter through sounds, quickly leading to legitimate overwhelm. 
• Safe Foods
  • Your child is undoubtedly most comfortable with your cooking and the safe meals you provide! New homes have different styles of cooking and unfamiliar flavors. 
  • If traveling, we’d suggest packing a preferred meal that your child can have to bring some comfort from home. 
• Subtle Lighting
  • This one is more challenging to ensure when traveling to other homes or locations. In your own home, however, keeping lights low can do wonders. Instead of bright white LED bulbs, opt for soft white or candle light type holiday lights.
    • In addition to auditory challenges, many autistic children have increased sensitivity to light. Bright white LED bulbs and harsh overhead lighting can cause pain and discomfort. 

Every child has different needs and what works for one may not work for another. When in doubt, your child’s BCBA is a great resource to tap on for tips to ensure a smoother holiday season!