10 Tips for an Autism-Friendly Christmas

‘Tis the season for sparkly decorations and festive music in shops; for school nativity plays, visits to relatives, and the excitement of opening presents on Christmas morning.

While for most children, these things bring a sense of anticipation, magic, and wonder, for children on the spectrum, they can just as easily trigger confusion, sensory overload, and full-blown meltdowns.

But fear not, autism parents, for I bring tidings of comfort and joy! Well, okay, I bring my top ten tips for an autism-friendly Christmas, but I’m sure they’ll bring a bit of comfort and spread a bit of joy in their own way, so it’s kind of similar.

While I appreciate that these tips won’t work for everyone, I’m hoping they’ll give you all some ideas and inspiration to make your holiday season go a bit more smoothly, so without further ado, here they are…

1. Be good to yourself: I’m not suggesting you start taking long baths or even put your feet up once in a while – I have four children on the spectrum, so I’m perfectly aware this isn’t an option, particularly during the holidays. I’m talking about the importance of understanding how it’s perfectly okay to feel upset, disappointed, frustrated, and sad when you think about all the traditional Christmassy things, you’d like to do but can’t because your child is autistic.

2. Focus on what’s staying the same: Although it’s very tempting to focus solely on what’s going to be different at Christmas – and preparing your child for the things that are going to change is hugely important – always remember to focus on everything that’s staying the same.

3. Explain, explain, explain: However you celebrate Christmas, or even if you don’t celebrate it at all, your child is bound to see a lot of Christian references when they’re out and about.

For all of @autismallstars ‘s tips Click Here.