Thanksgiving is here! This holiday can be stressful and overwhelming for anyone, but particularly for children that are sensory challenged. These children may not have a diagnosis, they may have ADHD or fall on the spectrum with Autism, Aspergers or PDD-NOS. Whichever you are dealing with we hope our ideas and tips help increase your family’s enjoyment during this Thanksgiving holiday.
Brain Balance in Southlake hopes your Thanksgiving is filled with lots of family and many blessings!“Holidays can be difficult because of all the expectations, as well as the sensory challenges, but with planning, information sharing, and a little tolerance, the holidays can be more enjoyable for all .” Chantal Sicile-Kira, author, speaker, and autism expert
Take Pictures to Help Prepare
Most children with sensory challenges dislike surprises and new settings. If you’re traveling to a new or rarely visited place with your loved one, photos can help prepare. What will the dining room look like? Where will he sit? If there’s a special quiet space, what will that look like? (1)
Prepare Your Home (Or Help Your Host Prepare)
If a child needs a getaway, prepare one before the big day. Some ideas: set up a quiet bedroom with familiar toys, videos, books or other soothing items. Add familiar or fun sensory items: a therapy ball, a mini-trampoline, or even a squeeze toy can be a terrific calming tool. These are great because they can include multiple senses and are mobile.
Ideas to keep your child busy
Click this link-Brain Balance Thanksgiving coloring book– for a fun Thanksgiving book we put together for your child to work on. We hope that it not only keeps them busy but provides a way to preserve memories.
I was looking for creative ideas and came across this site on Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/sensoryspectrum/pins/ The site is called the Sensory Spectrum. She says that she is a Mom Offering a Sensory Processing Disorder Community, Resources and Links. She has good information and ideas. If you want something a little quicker and easier click here for a Thanksgiving book that we made for your child to fill in information about your family, the food you will eat, and what he/she is thankful for.
Pick Some Thanksgiving Treats
Just like everyone else, people with autism have favorite foods, songs, toys and activities. Plan a few for everyone – INCLUDING your loved one with autism. Does she love peanuts? Is he a huge fan of vanilla ice cream? Choosing special treats can help make everyone feel loved and cared for.
Tips for Family Involement
Relatives may think the that the child is misbehaving, and may try to discipline the child, not realizing that the child really can’t help it, and that discipline is not helpful when it comes to sensory overload and high anxiety. Parents have a difficult time because they know there are certain expectations of behavior that relatives and friends have and that the child cannot fulfill.
What can you do? With some preparation, planning and information sharing, the holidays can be less stressful and more enjoyable. Here are some tips on how to prepare your friends and relatives whom you will be visiting:
· Explain the difficulties your child has with the holiday dinner environment, decorations, noise etc.
· Let them know he is not just misbehaving, and that he is learning little by little how to handle these situations.
· Explain about dietary challenges so they don’t expect him to eat what everyone else is eating.
· Ask if there is a quiet room (child –proof in terms of décor) where your child can retreat for some quiet time to escape the commotion and noise.
· Send them a short but sweet letter or email explaining explains why your child acts the way he does and the difficulties of the holidays form his point of view. They will have a better understanding of why she won’t wear a dress or he won’t wear a necktie, and why as more and more people start arriving, he tries to escape the room.
Brain Balance DFW 