By: Angela Farnsworth – Elementary Special Education Paraeducator and WSPTA Special Education Committee Member
The holiday season can bring a lot of joy, and also a lot of stress. This is true for everyone but especially neurodivergent kids. A gap in support services, a lack of routine, and over-stimulating events can leave families feeling out of control. Here are some tips to hopefully make your winter break a little bit easier.
- Maintain some routine, such as the same wakeup time, bedtime, or mealtimes.
- Build breaks into your day, no matter where you are. Plan for extra snacks, bathroom breaks, and keep some sensory toys/fidgets in your bag. This seems obvious, but planning to take breaks BEFORE they are needed helps prevent meltdowns. Especially try to tie these in before and after big events.
- Let kids know what your plans are ahead of time. Going over a family calendar together helps kids mentally prepare, and a visual schedule is even better.
- When decorating, try to be mindful of sensory triggers like flashing lights, loud music, bells, etc. Instead, opt for dim lights and have kids help decorate with non-fragile decor. You can even find holiday themed fidgets/sensory toys.
- Read a social story about different holiday traditions and expected behaviors. There are tons of great free and low-cost resources online that you can look at digitally or print out a physical copy.
- Remember that the holiday season may look different for your family and that’s okay. Plans will change, some days will be hard, everything won’t always work out how you want it to. THAT’S OKAY. Your family doesn’t need to do things the “traditional” way or “how you’ve always done it.” Don’t be afraid to change and modify traditions to fit your family’s needs. Focus on creating positive memories together and keeping an open mind.
Additional information (click a topic for a free resource):
Surviving the Holidays: Parents
Back to School After Winter Break
#FamilyFriday #WSPTA #WinterBreakTips #SpecialEducation #Belonging #Neurodivergent