The holiday season can be especially challenging for kids on the spectrum; below are some tips to help you support them.
A neurotypical child may experience increased emotional challenges or needs due to the change in their routine and the excitement of gifts. For a child with ASD, it can be even more challenging to cope with changes in their routine.
My first recommendation would be to prepare your child as much as possible for the upcoming holiday events and new daily routines. I typically utilize a visual schedule with my clients to show them what to expect. You can create a simple visual schedule and review it with them each morning to help prepare them for the different events for that day. For example, you may be visiting Santa or driving to a relative’s house. Printing a photo of Santa and your relatives can show your child the upcoming schedule in a concrete way. A meltdown can often be a result of a child feeling unsure of what is coming next or feeling out of control, and a visual schedule can help them feel prepared.
Keep in mind, you can prepare your child for these events, but it is important to remember to be flexible and adjust your plans as needed.
In addition to a visual schedule, a social story can be extremely beneficial for a child. A social story is a story that can be tailored specifically to each child and their needs, and it can help prepare them for a potentially stressful situation. For example, if you are planning to bring your child to visit Santa, but you know that they struggle with elopement, you could create a short story focused on how to wait safely with you in the community. If your child struggles with loud noises, you could make a story about the same Santa visit, but focus on what sounds to expect and how to cope with loud noises. They could wear their headphones, they could ask for a break, etc.
Here is an example of a social story about visiting Santa, which you could edit for your child:
*From AndNextComesL.com
It can also be beneficial to keep the child's routine as similar as possible to their typical day. For example, keeping their bedtime routine and time as close to their typical night can provide a predictable end to their day.
Lastly, preparing for a family gathering by packing items for your child can help you get ahead of challenging situations. Your child doesn’t want to eat the Christmas dinner? No problem! You packed a meal of their typical dinner items. They're becoming overstimulated while waiting in line? No problem! You brought some cool down tools such as a stress ball, favorite book, or chewy, etc. to help them ground themselves.
Keep in mind, you will not be able to prepare for or prevent every possible challenge that may arise during the holiday season, and you shouldn't try to! While it is important to prepare your child for upcoming changes when possible, it is also important that you allow the holiday season to unfold. I hope you found these tips helpful! Please comment with any additional tips below.
Comments