12/03/2025
The holidays can be overwhelming! Lookout for some great tips to make it a little easier for your family!
The holidays are often a difficult time for autistic children. Many families will gather with extended family members and loved ones during the holiday season. For an autistic child, these gatherings of unfamiliar people, places, food, and noises can create a stressful environment that differs from their daily routine expectations.
On Wednesdays during the month of December, the Family Success Center will be providing families with tips to help make this holiday season neurodivergent friendly
We will be covering preparation, environment adjustments, sensory management, & flexibility
Below you will find information on preparation:
Planning and preparation
* Start early: Inform your child weeks in advance about upcoming events using calendars, visual charts, or countdowns to help them prepare for changes.
* Create visual aids: Use visual schedules or social stories to explain what to expect during events like travel or visiting relatives, including who will be there and what will happen.
* Practice activities: Before the holiday, practice activities your child may need to do, such as opening presents or saying "thank you".
* Pack familiar items: Bring a "busy bag" with preferred toys, books, and fidgets to help keep your child occupied during travel or downtime.
* Address food concerns: Pack familiar, backup foods if your child is a picky eater to ensure they have something to eat at events or while traveling.
