11/25/2025
Supporting Neuro-diverse kids through the Holiday Hustle: How the ACT Hexaflex Helps
The holidays can be magical—but they can also be a lot for neuro-diverse kids. Extra noise, unexpected visitors, disrupted routines, and sensory overload can make this season overwhelming. At times like these, the ACT Hexaflex becomes more than a therapeutic tool…it becomes a compass.
Here’s how each part of the Hexaflex can gently guide families through the holiday rush:
✨ Present-Moment Awareness
Holiday schedules can move fast. Slowing down for small mindfulness moments—breathing together, grounding with a favorite object, or taking a quiet break—can help kids reset and feel safe.
💛 Acceptance
It’s okay if plans change or if certain events feel too big. Acceptance reminds us to make room for all feelings—excitement, frustration, joy, or overwhelm—without judgment.
🤝 Values
Focus on what truly matters for your family. Maybe it’s connection, comfort, or creativity. Let those values guide which traditions you keep and which you release.
🧠 Cognitive Defusion
Holiday stress can bring unhelpful thoughts (“This is too much,” “I can’t handle this”). Practicing defusion helps kids notice those thoughts without getting tangled in them.
🧩 Self-as-Context
Helping kids understand that they are not their big feelings—that feelings come and go—can empower them to stay centered even when the environment gets loud or unpredictable.
🎯 Committed Action
Choose small, meaningful steps that support your child’s needs: a visual schedule for holiday events, building in sensory breaks, or practicing social stories before gatherings.
This season doesn’t have to be perfect to be peaceful.
With the ACT Hexaflex, families can create holiday moments that feel safe, joyful, and authentically theirs.
