The holiday season can be a busy and overwhelming time for families with a child on the autism spectrum. As Christmas approaches, parents may worry about how their child will handle all of the new sights, sounds, and activities that come with the holiday season.
One activity that is particularly popular during this time of year is decorating the Christmas tree and hanging ornaments. However, for children with autism, this seemingly simple task can actually be quite challenging. But as for regular people with no idea what this is like for children on the spectrum, here are the things you must know.
The Struggle with Sensory Overload
Children with autism often have difficulties processing sensory information, which can make certain experiences overwhelming and uncomfortable for them. Hypersensitivity to certain sounds, lights, and textures is common in children with autism, and this can make decorating the Christmas tree with ornaments a stressful rather than enjoyable experience for them.
The bright lights and glittery decorations on the tree may be too intense for their sensitive eyes, while the different textures of the ornaments may cause discomfort. This sensory overload can lead to meltdowns or avoidance behavior in some children.
If you’re a new parent to a child on the autism spectrum or planning to decorate your home with ornaments during the holiday season, it’s essential to be mindful of your child’s sensory needs and find ways to make the experience more comfortable.
The Social Anxiety and Meltdowns
Just like us, a draining social battery can take a toll on our little ones in the spectrum. Decorating the Christmas tree with ornaments is often a social activity, whether with family or friends. This can be overwhelming for children with autism, who may struggle with social interactions and feel anxious in group settings.
In addition to social anxiety, children with autism may also experience meltdowns during this time of year due to changes in routines and overwhelming sensory inputs. This can make decorating the Christmas tree with ornaments more challenging as they may not have the patience or ability to participate fully. Here are some tips to turn a potentially stressful situation into a fun holiday activity.
Tips for Making the Experience Enjoyable
Use Visual Aids and Social Stories
For children with autism, having a visual representation of what to expect can be extremely helpful. This helps them to anticipate what will happen and understand the purpose of the activity. This also removes the element of surprise and helps acclimate them before the event.
Social stories can also be a great tool to prepare your child for decorating the Christmas tree with ornaments. These short, personalized narratives use simple language and pictures to explain what will happen, why it’s happening, and how they should behave.
You can get Christmas storybooks for children with autism that are specifically designed to help them understand the holiday season and prepare for various activities. This can help reduce anxiety and prevent meltdowns.
Let Your Child Take the Lead
Allowing your child to take charge and lead the decorating process can give them a sense of control and make them more comfortable with the activity. Let them choose which ornaments to use, where to put them, and how many to hang on each branch. This way, they can participate at their own pace and according to their preferences.
Instead of making it a grand social event, make it a more intimate activity with just you and your child. This will also help reduce sensory overload and allow your child to focus on the task at hand without any external pressure or distractions.
Use Sensory-Friendly Ornaments
Ditch the glittery, delicate ornaments and opt for more sensory-friendly options. You can use soft, plush ornaments or ones with interesting textures your child can touch and feel without fear of breaking them.
You can also involve your child in making their own DIY ornaments using materials like felt, pom-poms, and pipe cleaners. This engages their creativity and gives them a sense of ownership over the decorations.
Again, some materials you can use for your ornaments are felt paper, cotton wool, foam stickers or buttons. These soft and tactile items make them ideal for children with sensory processing issues.
Use Visual Schedules
Visual schedules can be very helpful in preparing your child for the upcoming holiday activities. You can create a schedule specifically for decorating the house, where you break down the different tasks into smaller steps and use pictures or symbols to represent each step. A routine like this will give your child a clear understanding of what is expected from them, easing their anxiety and reducing any surprises that may trigger sensory overload.
Use Calming Scents
For children with sensory processing issues, it’s important to create an environment that’s calming and soothing. This can be achieved through the use of calming scents like lavender, chamomile or vanilla. These scents can help your child relax and feel more at ease during the holiday decorating process.
You can use candles, essential oils or diffusers to incorporate these scents into your home decor. Just make sure to choose high-quality, natural products that are safe for children. However, be mindful of any sensitivities your child may have to certain scents.
Decorate Gradually
Instead of decorating your entire home in one go, consider decorating gradually. This can give your child time to adjust. You can start by decorating one room at a time or focus on creating the DIY ornaments first before moving on to larger decorations. This gradual approach can help your child feel less overwhelmed and give them a sense of control over the process.
Autism and Christmas Ornaments: What You Need to Remember
Decorating for the holidays can be a fun and exciting time, but if you have a child with autism, these bustling activities and changes in their environment can be overwhelming. But this doesn’t mean you have to skip the decorations altogether. By using some of these strategies, you can create a more sensory-friendly and enjoyable holiday decorating experience for your child with autism. Remember to communicate with your child, break down tasks, use calming scents, decorate gradually, and watch the magic of Christmas joy unfold for you and your child.
Wishing you and your family a happy and stress-free holiday season!
