By: Adrienne T. Gaither, OTR, C-SIPT, C-NDT
Director of Caregiver Empowerment
It’s hard to believe, but the holidays are just around the corner! It feels like it was just 100 degrees and the middle of July. But, school is in full-swing and fun fall and winter activities are in the here and now. Unfortunately, this can be stressful for any parent or child, but especially for those who are touched by autism. Luckily, there are many strategies that can help you manage sensory overload and dysregulation so you just might end up with a few precious smiles for those cherished holiday photographs.
First and foremost, think about your child’s sensory preferences. If they are a sensory avoider, protect them from overload at all costs. You know your child better than anyone in the world.
There are many sounds associated with the holidays and often all at the same time. Loud music, bustling crowds, holiday plays in gyms or cafeterias that echo- all of these can converge and cause your child to, at best, cover their ears, and at worst, run as fast as they can until they find a quiet space. Consider noise-reducing headphones that may even play soft music or white noise. For the child who is a sensory seeker, ask them how loud they would like the music playing, let them listen to music or holiday shows in their headphones if the volume is dysregulating for YOU! Encourage them to sing along, think about toy musical instruments they can play; tambourines are great- even beating pots and pans with cooking utensils.
The holidays would not be the same without lights. But for the sensory avoider, these can almost be painful, especially if they flicker. Use dim lighting of a warm white instead of bright colors, provide sunglasses or a ball cap, use simple decorations with minimal patterns. Sensory seekers may love lights- the more the better! If it’s appropriate and safe, put some lights in their room or play area. Better yet, invest in lights with a remote control that changes their colors and flicker rate. Don’t forget to tell family members who may be giving your child a gift that toys with lights are a great idea.
For sensory avoiders who get overwhelmed by different textures, consider offering them a weighted stuffie or blanket, use soft, textured fabrics for special outfits, let them wear leggings and a soft long-sleeved shirt under their “special” clothes to keep seams and tags off of their skin. When it comes to a touch seeker, have plenty of fidget toys available and plan arts and crafts activities involving fingerpaint, glue, glitter, and the like. More holiday adaptations may include: keeping music at a moderate volume and allowing for quiet spaces, offering foods that are already familiar to your child especially when it comes to textures and smells, or letting them wear comfortable clothing that they pick out themselves.
Don’t forget social stories before the fact, open communication about your child’s preferences with family members and guests, checking for local sensory-friendly holiday events, shopping online instead of hauling the family to a busy mall, giving one gift at a time so your child does not become overwhelmed, and making sure you let your child know what to expect BEFORE it happens. Maybe even visit a place you are going to a few days beforehand so they can see the travel route and the building. Do allow your child to have a word or phrase you agree upon for the holiday season, like “break”, “quiet”, or even “no” and then honor that word because they are communicating that they need a place to regulate their nervous system.
We here at ACN wish you a joyful holiday season full of wonderful memories! Happy Holidays everyone!