Holiday Survival and Autism

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Holiday Survival and Autism

How to Survive the Holiday Season with a Child with Autism

The holiday season is hectic for everyone but more so for a family

with an autistic child. Learn how you and your child can have a fun

holiday season!

The holiday season is hectic for everyone but more so for a family with

an autistic child. This time of year brings the autistic child and the

entire family out of their usual routine and exposes them to people and

places that they may not be familiar with. This can create a host of

problems including increased stress levels for all involved. These four

tips will help you and your child survive this holiday season.

Use Social Stories to Describe Christmas Day to Your Autistic Child

Social stories are commonly used to describe situations an autistic

child will face. The story will describe how the child should act in

that specific situation. You can write a story for your child and

include pictures if you like.

The chaos of Christmas morning can easily overwhelm a child on the

autism spectrum. A child with an idea of what to expect is less likely

to experience sensory overload. Creating social stories for the majority

of your major events during the holiday season will make it a more

enjoyable time for all. Here are some examples of social stories:

.. It is Christmas morning. Uncle will bring the parents out from

under the tree and hand them to all the children. The children will then

open the presents. There will likely be lots of loud squeals of delight

and wrapping paper flying about. If you need to take a break you can go

to Aunt Susie's bedroom.

.. Everyone sits down to eat dinner where there will be new foods for you

to try. If you don't want to try something it is OK to politely decline.

Plan Ahead for Dietary Needs for Your Autistic Child

It is not uncommon for children on the autism spectrum to have food

allergies or other special diets. If you are planning on spending the

holidays at someone else's house, plan ahead. Make sure that there are

plenty of your child's favorite and safe foods on hand. Having ready

access to foods will help ease your child's transition into the new

environment.

Plan Some Quiet Time for Your Autistic Child on Christmas Day

Don't over plan your day with too many activities. It is important for

children on the autism spectrum to have some down time during the

Christmas festivities. If you and your child know that you have planned

for quiet time on a daily basis you will be more refreshed and less

stressed.

Keep to Your Autistic Child's Standard Routine as Allowed

Children with an autism spectrum disorder are often-times more affected

by change in routine than other children. Even if you are out-of-town

you can still maintain many of your daily routines. Morning routines and

bedtime routines can be kept even if you are not home. Don't forget your

child's lovey or other comfort item.