OH.MY.GOODNESS!!
When did December sneak up on us?
I mean, I swear I was just enjoying the warmth of the summer months, watching fireworks and singing “God Bless America”….
Now it’s Rudolph and Santa and snowflakes galore.
Holidays can be one of the happiest, but also one of the most stressful times of the year for many families.
If you’re excited and nervous, joyful but scared as a parent with a little guy with special needs, you’re not alone.
The lights and sounds and all the festivities can definitely send some of our kiddos into sensory overload and straight to a meltdown.
Before you jump into bed to pull the covers over your head until January rolls around, know that there is HOPE! I’ve scoured the interweb to wrangle some of my favorite tips to survive (and actually ENJOY) the holiday season this year.
So let’s dive in to some holiday FUN…
>>Our friends over at Kinetic Kids, Inc. suggested some simple sensory-friendly activities the whole family can do together. We love our OT pals! Some of my faves from their suggestions…
- Make peppermint slime! This will surely perk up the sensory system and get some tactile input in as well.
- Stomp footprints in the snow to get in some “heavy work” to calm the sensory system to help improve attention… okay, so maybe my friends from Hawaii and Cali will have to settle for stomping in the sand 😉
- Messy cookie decorating: sensory fun and delicious treats to eat… Enough said.
Grab the whole list at their website and let me know which ones you try!
>>Our pals at AngelSense have some great ideas for getting out of the house and enjoying the holiday season while keeping in mind the unique needs of your children. Just a few they mention at their website include:
- Meeting a sensory-friendly Santa. More and more of these are popping up around the nation, and it couldn’t make my heart happier. There are also signing Santas for those kiddos who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
- Watch a sensory-friendly movie. These are great opportunities for children to attend a movie at an actual theater. Accommodations are made for our kiddos. For instance, the lights can be on, the volume can be lowered, and children are welcome to walk around and sing as they see fit.
- Go out for a sensory-friendly meal. Now this sounds cool! Some restaurants around the country are offering sensory-friendly kits, including a weighted lap pad, noise-reduction headphones, and fidgets/sensory toys that children can use while they’re eating out with their family. Love love love this idea!!
>>The gals over at Alamo City Moms Blog put together some really practical tips on how to maintain routines and predictability for kiddos during the holiday season. From things like using a visual schedule to being flexible with family photos and holiday outfits, these are tips that you can put to use right away to benefit your little ones.
ACTION STEPS:
Have FUN and ENJOY your family during this holiday season, however you choose the spend it 😀
