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Twelve Tips for Helping Individuals with Autism Have a Happy Holiday Season

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With the holiday’s coming, things can get hectic for my family. We always have to plan around Devon, so many things can set him off that we always prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Devon doesn’t like to sit too long, so I am always trying to find things that will keep him busy.

Twelve Tips for Helping Individuals with Autism Have a Happy Holiday Season

When he feels like it is time to go, there is no stopping him. He will get very upset and sometimes throw a tantrum. I am always looking for tips on how to get Him ready and ourselves ready for the Holidays.

I always look at the website Autism Society, they have great ideas. Below are the 12 Tips that they give to help.

Twelve Tips for Helping Individuals with Autism Have a Happy Holiday Season

While many happily anticipate the coming holiday season, families of people on the autism spectrum also understand the special challenges that may occur when schedules are disrupted and routines are broken. 

Our hope is that by following these few helpful tips, families may lessen the stress of the holiday season and make it a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved. 

1. Preparation is crucial for many individuals. At the same time, it is important to determine how much preparation a specific person may need.

For example, if your son or daughter has a tendency to become anxious when anticipating an event that is to occur in the future, you may want to adjust how many days in advance you prepare him or her.

Preparation can occur in various ways by using a calendar and marking the dates of various holiday events, or by creating a social story that highlights what will happen at a given event.

2. Decorations around the house may be disruptive for some. It may be helpful to revisit pictures from previous holidays that show decorations in the house. If such a photo book does not exist, use this holiday season to create one.

For some, it may also be helpful to take them shopping with you for holiday decorations so that they are engaged in the process. Or involve them in the process of decorating the house.

And once holiday decorations have been put up, you may need to create rules about those that can and cannot be touched. Be direct, specific, and consistent.

3. If a person with autism has difficulty with change, you may want to gradually decorate the house. For example, on the first day, put up the Christmas tree, then on the next day, decorate the tree, and so on.

And again, engage them as much as possible in this process. It may be helpful to develop a visual schedule or calendar that shows what will be done on each day.

4. If a person with autism begins to obsess about a particular gift or item they want, it may be helpful to be specific and direct about the number of times they can mention the gift. One suggestion is to give them five chips. They are allowed to exchange one chip for five minutes of talking about the desired gift.

Also, if you have no intention of purchasing a specific item, it serves no purpose to tell them that maybe they will get the gift.

This will only lead to problems in the future. Always choose to be direct and specific about your intentions.

5. Teach them how to leave a situation and/or how to access support when an event becomes overwhelming. For example, if you are having visitors, have a space set aside for the child as his/her safe/calm space. Individuals should be taught ahead of time that they should go to their space when feeling overwhelmed.

This self-management tool will serve the individual into adulthood. For those who are not at that level of self-management, develop a signal or cue for them to show when they are getting anxious, and prompt them to use the space. 

For individuals with more significant challenges, practice using this space in a calm manner at various times prior to your guests’ arrival. 

Take them into the room and engage them in calming activities (e.g., play soft music, rub his/her back, turn down the lights, etc.).

Then when you notice the individual becoming anxious, calmly remove him/her from the anxiety-provoking setting immediately and take him/her into the calming environment.

6. If you are traveling for the holidays, make sure you have their favorite foods, books, or toys available. Having familiar items readily available can help to calm stressful situations.

Also, prepare them via social stories or other communication systems for any unexpected delays in travel.

If you are flying for the first time, it may be helpful to bring the individual to the airport in advance and help him/her to become accustomed to airports and planes. 

Use social stories and pictures to rehearse what will happen when boarding and flying.

7. Know your loved one with autism and how much noise and activity they can tolerate. If you detect that a situation may be becoming overwhelming, help them find a quiet area in which to regroup.

And there may be some situations that you simply avoid (e.g., crowded shopping malls the day after Thanksgiving).

8. Prepare a photo album in advance of the relatives and other guests who will be visiting during the holidays. Allow the person with autism access to these photos at all times and also go through the photo album with him/her while talking briefly about each family member.

9. Practice opening gifts, taking turns and waiting for others, and giving gifts. Role-play scenarios with your child in preparation for him/her getting a gift they do not want.

Talk through this process to avoid embarrassing moments with family members. You might also choose to practice certain religious rituals.

Work with a speech-language pathologist to construct pages of vocabulary or topic boards that relate to the holidays and family traditions.

10. Prepare family members for strategies to use to minimize anxiety or behavioral incidents, and to enhance participation. Help them to understand if the person with autism prefers to be hugged or not, needs calm discussions, or provides other suggestions that will facilitate a smoother holiday season.

If the individual becomes upset, it might also be helpful to coach others to remain calm and neutral in an effort to minimize behavioral outbursts.

11. If the person with autism is on a special diet, make sure there is food available that he/she can eat. And even if they are not on a special diet, be cautious of the amount of sugar consumed.

And try to maintain a sleep and meal routine.

12. Above all, know your loved one with autism. Know how much noise and other sensory input they can take. Know their level of anxiety and the amount of preparation it may take.

Know their fears and those things that will make the season more enjoyable for them.

Don’t stress. Plan in advance. And most of all have a wonderful holiday season!

I hope this helps you as much as it will my family.

For more information visit the Autism Society.

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Danielle @ We Have It All

Monday 10th of December 2012

Great tips, you hit it on the head! I worked with Autistic kids and these are great tips, thanks for sharing!

Dawn Wittenhagen

Sunday 9th of December 2012

i have a granddaughter that is autistic and i am very autistic aware!! THANKS for the awareness!

Elizabeth - Water Rolls Uphill

Sunday 9th of December 2012

Sounds great. We have a new family member that has autism and we are learning all about it.

Jo Anne

Saturday 8th of December 2012

That's quite a tip...very helpful tips indeed. Enjoy the holiday seasons!

ronnkelly3

Saturday 8th of December 2012

Thank you. Happy Holidays.

Pam

Saturday 8th of December 2012

Being prepared seems to be the key. These are great tips. My wish is for your family to have a Happy Holiday Season!

ronnkelly3

Saturday 8th of December 2012

Thank you. Happy Holiday.

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