5 Tips To Help Children With Special Needs Get Through Holiday Gatherings
The Christmas season is upon us and that means many of us will be hosting or attending family gatherings to celebrate with our loved ones. For some, this will be something we look forward to as this is a time we get to see family members you haven’t seen all year. For others, not so much. If you have children with special needs, this can be very overwhelming for them so finding ways to accommodate their needs are very important but it can also be challenging. We have five tips that can successfully help children with special needs get through holiday gatherings.
1. Prepare Your Child Well In Advance
Many children with special needs thrive on following a routine and the slightest deviation can cause severe anxiety. If you’ll be hosting, or will be attending gatherings at someone else’s home, preparing your child well in advance is essential in ensuring they are not caught off guard which can result in problem behaviour. Depending on your child’s language ability, having conversations about upcoming gatherings is a great way to prepare them for what to expect. You can also use visual prompts or visual schedules to communicate what will be happening. You can use countdown calendars, schedules of the sequence of events to follow, or pictures of family members and their homes to help them visualize what will be happening. These also serve as reminders as you get closer to the time of the event. There is a huge misconception that visual reminders only work with autistic children, however we have used them with children with other disabilities and they have been very effective in helping children engage in and complete tasks when used and prompts in many scenarios.
Be sure to answer any questions your child may have about upcoming events and include them in making decisions as much as possible.
2. Have Preferred Toys/Activities Available At All Times
Self-regulation is something a lot of children with special needs struggle with and therefore having preferred toys or activities that can help them get through holiday gatherings without having a complete meltdown. Toys that provide sensory stimulation, fidget toys, or activities that can be used as a calming/coping mechanism should always be available to your child to ensure they are able to regulate their feelings and emotions.
Other things to think about are lighting, noise levels, furniture, and scents as these can also affect your child’s ability to self-regulate. Offer breaks in a quiet space and respect when your child declines an offer to engage in a conversation or activity that may overwhelm them.
3. Offer Preferred Food Options
Always ensure there are food options your child likes and will eat at family gatherings. Plan ahead and reach out to the host to let them know about your child’s preferences. If the host is unable to provide options for your child, take it with you or you may need to reconsider going altogether. A hungry child will be no fun for anyone.
Food texture is another important factor to think about when preparing for that big meal. If your child refuses to try something new, that is not the time to start an eating program that will only be adding fuel to the fire.
4. Mean What You Say
Never go back on something you told your child when you were preparing them for holiday gatherings; they always remember and it usually doesn’t end well for anyone. Say what you mean and mean what you say. If you told your child that family and friends will be in their house or you will be out for four hours, try to ensure you stick to that timeline as much as possible. This can sometimes be difficult to do when catching up with people you haven’t seen in a while, however some children do not cope well with sudden changes in scheduling that may through them off. If you know your child will be able to accommodate being out for a longer period, check in with them prior to the end of your allotted time to ensure they are okay, otherwise, leave at the time previously agreed upon.
5. Honor Your Child’s Request to Leave
If your child is visibly having a hard time coping during a holiday gathering and request to leave, honor it. They are communicating their needs to you in an appropriate way, which should be rewarded.
This holiday season does not have to be stressful for you and your child. Proper planning is necessary to ensure your child is included and has fun.