Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress!
Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress!
The holidays can be a stressful time for everyone. Long car rides, lots of people, loud noises, and various other stimulants can make the holidays exhausting and make you feel overwhelmed. This can cause children with sensory difficulties even more stress and anxiety than normal. Below are a few tips and tricks to help you and your child have an enjoyable holiday season without the stress.
It is important to give your child a schedule of events for the day. Whether it be a picture schedule or a written schedule, knowing what is coming next and what the day holds can help your child be more prepared and feel calmer. It is also important to talk to your child before events like parties, parades, etc. Talk about how long you plan on being there, how they should behave, and any other details about the event so that they know exactly what is going to happen. Packing sensory friendly items can also help make the holidays go by smoother. For example, pack ear plugs if you are going somewhere loud or a fidget toy if they are going to have to be sitting still for long periods of time. If your child does not like dress clothes but they are going to have to dress up then pack a pair of comfy clothes for them to change into as soon as possible. Also be sure to pack lots of treats and snacks if you have a child with lots of food allergies or sensitivities. Limiting holiday decorations is another way to keep easily over stimulated kids calm, and have them help decorate as much as possible so that they are involved in the changes that will be made to the house.
These are just a few of the tips and strategies to use to help reduce holiday stress. Here are some websites with more tips and tricks
https://www.autismspeaks.org/docs/holidaytips.pdf
https://www.understood.org/~/media/407b01f8c35047c3b7757dbb0a28914a.pdf
Happy Holidays!!!
-Matthew D’Antonio, PT, DPT
Pediatric Physical Therapist
