Creating a Sensory-Friendly Holiday Season: Tips for Parents🎄
The holiday season is filled with sights, sounds, and smells that can bring joy—or sensory overload. For autistic individuals, the bustling energy of winter festivities can be both magical and overwhelming. With a bit of planning and creativity, you can create a holiday experience that’s enjoyable and comfortable for your child.
Here are some fun and sensory-friendly ways to celebrate the season:
1. Create a Cozy Holiday Space
While glittering lights and festive music are holiday necessities, they can be overwhelming. Designate a quiet, cozy area in your home with soft lighting, calming decorations, and a favorite blanket or sensory toy. This space can be a retreat for your child when the excitement becomes too much.
2. Explore Sensory-Friendly Decorations
Instead of flashing lights or loud ornaments, opt for softer decorations like soft felt garlands, smooth glass ornaments, or scented pinecones. Let your child help decorate by choosing items that feel good to them—this can make the experience more personal and engaging!
3. Plan Predictable Festivities
Many autistic children thrive on routine. Incorporate holiday traditions into their existing schedule so they know what to expect. Use visual schedules, countdown calendars, or social stories to prepare them for activities like decorating, visiting family, or unwrapping presents.
4. Simplify Gift-Giving
Unwrapping presents can be exciting but also overwhelming. Try sensory-friendly packaging, like gift bags or wrapping paper without loud patterns. For some children, opening one gift at a time, with breaks in between, can make the experience less stressful.
5. Enjoy Outdoor Winter Activities
Winter offers plenty of sensory-rich experiences, from the crunch of snow underfoot to the feel of crisp air. Activities like sledding, building snowmen, or taking quiet nature walks can be both calming and fun. If outdoor activities are too cold or intense, try sensory-friendly indoor alternatives like fake snow play with shaving cream or kinetic sand.
6. Be Mindful of Holiday Gatherings
Large gatherings can be overwhelming, so keep events short or allow for breaks. Share your child’s needs with family members beforehand and have a plan for quieter moments, like a dedicated sensory space at the host’s home.
7. Celebrate in Your Own Way
The holidays don’t have to look a certain way to be special. If traditional activities like visiting Santa or caroling don’t work for your child, create your own traditions. A movie night with their favorite film, baking cookies together, or crafting holiday decorations can be just as meaningful.
8. Give the Gift of Calm
Consider sensory-friendly gifts, like weighted blankets, noise-canceling headphones, or fidget toys. These can not only bring joy but also help your child feel more comfortable throughout the season.