Happy Holidays…What does that mean to the average person?
Family gatherings
Fun traditions
Shopping
Eating
Snow
No school
Family photos
Holiday parties
Happy Holidays…What does that mean to a family with members with special needs?
ADDED STRESS!
Family gatherings: Can we go?
Fun traditions: Will my other children be able to enjoy them?
Shopping: Will there be too many people at the store? Will he/she wait in line?
Eating: Will grandma be mad that he/she will not eat their dinner?
Snow: Will they put on their snow pants and gloves?
No school: What will I do?
Family photos: Will we ever have the “perfect” holiday card?
Holiday parties: Will people look?
Some Strategies for SUCCESS!
1. Prepare
Prepare, prepare, prepare.
Prepare Yourself
Identify what could potentially be stressful
Let go of expectations
Prepare your child
Identify what are stressors for them
Set expectations
Prepare your family/friends
Give people a chance to help you
2. Routines
Routines are helpful for many individuals with special needs and their families which can be disrupted during the holiday season.
Work to create some consistency in routines
Bedtime (i.e., brushing teeth, taking a bath, reading a story, etc.)
Mealtime (i.e., continue to use added supports
Create a routine when one is absent
Visuals can help with predictability of what is to be expected
Review the visual schedule with your child so they know what to expect
Make sure to incorporate motivating items and preferred activities in the visual schedules
Create travel books for places you travel
Some visual examples:
3. Familiar Items
New environments, schedules, activities, people, etc., can be very stressful.
Comfort with familiarity
Take along familiar foods, toys, objects, music, etc.
Remember to praise and pay attention to appropriate, social behavior!
May look a little different than the usual day to day
4. Communication
Communication plays a stressful role during the holiday season. Be sure to:
Reduce asking questions
Limit demands
Increase comments
Holiday gatherings are often times where people take opportunities to ‘show off’ what they can do – Avoid asking kids to ‘show grandpa……’
5. Quiet Place
Do not put your child in the spotlight the entire time.
Know when your child needs a break
Identify a safe place at each activity where your child can take a break away from the crowds or away from family/friends
Have your child practice asking for a break or using a picture card to express to you when they need a break
*This information is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be used to replace consultation with your doctor or qualified health professional.
