It’s the most wonderful time… of the year!
Nonstop carols, brightly colored decorations in every store, and the tv has gone crazy pushing toys every 5 minutes the Christmas season has arrived! Holiday commercialism assaulting your sensitive child at the mall and every place else they go. How can your child get through such a huge obstacle course of sensory confusion without loosing their cool? Let me help you by giving you tried and true ways to help your sensory intense child have a happy holiday season!
I have 5 wonderful children that have sensory issues and 4 on the spectrum. My children are from a young adult ready to graduate down to elementary school. It has taken years of learning through trial and error. Many helpful suggestions from other parents and occupational therapists that we have been to over the years.
Don’t struggle through the holidays like I used. Let me teach you ways to prevent sensory triggers and meltdowns. How to help friends and family understand.
**Create a tradition today. That can be simply sitting together sharing with your child all the great things that you were blessed with this year!
I shared this and so much more in my workshop Happy Holidays with your Sensory INTENSE child!
Travel for the Holidays is common
The last few years of traveling for speaking has taught me many ways to load up 7 people into a van and have sensory success. Whether you are going on long trips or short trips this time of year can crank the whole trip up to an unrealistic expectation that leaves everyone ready to meltdown. I will show you ways to reduce anxiety, sensory triggers, and how to help you keep calm if the trip goes sideways.
Holiday get togethers often focus around big meals
Many of our traditions at the holiday’s are focused around a big meal. Strange place, unfamiliar relatives and friends (like family from out of town or their uncle’s new girlfriend), unusual meals and foods that are outside the norm can set off meltdowns.
A meltdown in the middle of the big meal can be a nightmare for all and leave an embarrassed depressed cloud on future family get togethers.
Holidays are fun. It’s great to get together with your family and have a day of celebration. We need to keep our children’s abilities in mind as we plan our day. Try to navigate with them through the day to the best choices. Highlight what is important to you as a family. If the meal is the big high point, try going right at the meal. Sadly if your plans fail and you need to leave. Leave with an optimistic view that next time will be better. Working as a family your holiday can be less stressed with a higher degree of success!
**Do what you can and NO more. Don’t let the pressures of the season push you and your family to the point of meltdown.
Practical ideas how to navigate meals from buffet style, super formal affairs, or a kids table. You might be eating at a time outside the normal routine or even foods that are not allowed like gluten or nut products. I have helped my 5 children navigate this dinner conundrum for over 12 years now as we are gluten free, casein free, soy free, and a few other add ons.
Then comes the Let Down ever since the Back to School sales we have been in an onslaught of commercialization priming us for the holidays. Now suddenly after months of that incessant pushing there is silence. The sudden silence can be depressing, confusing, and a need to return to routine. We need to have a strategy to help our child and family return to a healthy routine.
Our job as parents of a child with sensory issues can be a tough one. Planning, experience tested strategies, and tips can help you led your wonderful sensory intense child through the holiday season.
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