October 16, 2012
Surviving the Holidays - Helpful hints and ideas from
Associates in Pediatric Therapy on how you and your sensory kiddo can survive the holiday season! Invite your family and friends!
- Be Sound Sensitive: Have ear plugs or ear muffs available to block out extraneous noise in overwhelming environments. You can also use head phones or ear buds with relaxing music to calm your child.
- Be Space Sensitive: When you are travelling to different environments, including the homes of friends and family, identify a quiet, safe space where the child can take a break if he or she becomes over-stimulated. Indicate the location upon arrival and check in with your child periodically to see if they need a break.
- Be Movement Sensitive: For movement seeking children, encourage safe, structured movement activities every 1-2 hours, or more often if indicated. You can include jumping jacks, wall pushups, toe touches, or "shaking the sillies out" of each body part. A walk planned for after a mean is a great idea! Your child can run, jump in a pile of leaves, or roll down a hill to get the input he or she needs.
- Be Touch Sensitive: Allow your child to wear comfortable, familiar clothing whenever possible. If you have a special holiday outfit planned, let your child "test drive" it several times before the big event. Bring along a change of clothes just in case!
- Prepare for Food Sensitivities: If your child has special diet needs or oral sensory issues that affect your child's food perferences, be prepared. Bring along something you know your child can/will eat to avoid mealtime meltdowns.
- Dealing with Change: Prepare your child for holiday schedule changes in advance. You can use daily calendars or schedule boards that include upcoming events. Add pictures if necessary. You can list activities hourly, daily or weekly depending on your child's needs. Also, review the schedule the night before and the morning of the unfamiliar routine. Use social stories to review appropriate behavior for the different functions.
- Keep Your Child Happy: Bring along your child's favorite activites, like crayons and paper, a book, or a special car in a designated backpack or bag. You can also include any especially calming activities like a special stuffed animal, play doh, bubbles, or a fidget toy.
- Be Flexible and Have Fun!
Thank you to Associates in Pediatric Therapy for putting this list together!
- Be Space Sensitive: When you are travelling to different environments, including the homes of friends and family, identify a quiet, safe space where the child can take a break if he or she becomes over-stimulated. Indicate the location upon arrival and check in with your child periodically to see if they need a break.
- Be Movement Sensitive: For movement seeking children, encourage safe, structured movement activities every 1-2 hours, or more often if indicated. You can include jumping jacks, wall pushups, toe touches, or "shaking the sillies out" of each body part. A walk planned for after a mean is a great idea! Your child can run, jump in a pile of leaves, or roll down a hill to get the input he or she needs.
- Be Touch Sensitive: Allow your child to wear comfortable, familiar clothing whenever possible. If you have a special holiday outfit planned, let your child "test drive" it several times before the big event. Bring along a change of clothes just in case!
- Prepare for Food Sensitivities: If your child has special diet needs or oral sensory issues that affect your child's food perferences, be prepared. Bring along something you know your child can/will eat to avoid mealtime meltdowns.
- Dealing with Change: Prepare your child for holiday schedule changes in advance. You can use daily calendars or schedule boards that include upcoming events. Add pictures if necessary. You can list activities hourly, daily or weekly depending on your child's needs. Also, review the schedule the night before and the morning of the unfamiliar routine. Use social stories to review appropriate behavior for the different functions.
- Keep Your Child Happy: Bring along your child's favorite activites, like crayons and paper, a book, or a special car in a designated backpack or bag. You can also include any especially calming activities like a special stuffed animal, play doh, bubbles, or a fidget toy.
- Be Flexible and Have Fun!
Thank you to Associates in Pediatric Therapy for putting this list together!