Joel Desotelle, MS OTR/L, pediatric
occupational therapist and program director of Keystone Pediatric Therapies in Chambersburg, offers a holiday guide for families with children living with autism.
Happy Holidays
The holidays are a joyful time to share with friends and family. It is a time for giving and traditions, but for families with children living with autism, it can also be a challenging time. Lights, decorations, noise and music, travel plans, visitors, changes in routine, shopping, and other interruptions can lead to increased behaviors, heightened sensitivity, and added family stress. It is important to remember that the holiday season is a special time of the year and planning ahead can help make it special for your child or family member as well.
Sensory Overload
The holiday season can be overwhelming to all of us. For children living with autism, their tolerance for all of the lights, noise, and commotion may be far less. While we are enjoying family or out shopping, it is important to be aware of your child’s threshold for sensory stimulation. Pay close attention to your child’s behavior, which may indicate increased stress and anxiety, and try to respond before it’s too late. You may want to limit the number of lights, decorations, or avoid playing music too loud. Keep shopping trips short, break them up, or tag team with another family member. During holiday activities, have a plan to give your child a time and place to decompress (i.e. a quiet room or space) and/or offer a preferred or sensory activity (i.e. back rub) to reduce stress.
Changes in Routine
During the holidays, kids are out of school, families travel, and routines and schedules frequently change. Children living with autism rely on their schedule to help them adapt. Creating a calendar of the holiday season with scheduled events and activities can help to reduce unwanted stress. Review and discuss changes to the routine ahead of time. Use pictures of people and places to eliminate anxiety over the unknown. And try to maintain your child’s sleep and eating schedule, or at least make sure your child gets plenty of rest and be aware of the potential affects of diet changes.
Getting Family Onboard
The holidays offer many opportunities for friends and family to get together, adding memories, but also the potential for increased commotion. The addition of people, noise, and activity can overwhelm your child’s capacity for sensory input. You understand your child’s limits more than others, so it may be helpful to offer a little education to your host or guests. This will help them to be more receptive to both your child’s threshold for commotion as well as understanding in the event of any unexpected behaviors.
Gifts/Presents
New activities for children offer enjoyment, but also an opportunity for development. When selecting gifts, consider toys and games that give your child a chance to have fun, but also learn. Consider whether or not your child is able to set the activity up and how much attention and skill does the task require. Avoid activities that feed into any self-stimulatory behaviors, instead look for games and play sets that stretch the imagination. Pediatric occupational and speech therapists specialize in selecting activities that will help your child grow and develop. To learn more about games and play sets that will help your child, consult with your child’s therapist before making your list.
