“I recently came across an article that may be of interest to clinicians in  work with children who have autism spectrum disorders and/or are sensitive to lights/noises.  “Tis the Season for … Precipitating Factors” by Pam Sikorski (found at:  http://bit.ly/1qrBvwk ) talks about how overwhelming the holiday season can be — honestly, for everyone: adults, kids, kids with special needs alike — and recommendations for coping.

I think this time of year is often thought of as super exciting fun time, and maybe it is…but my experience has also included:
-> Not all kids celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas, but we are all bombarded with the stuff that comes with it.
-> Not all kids have great holiday experiences.  Some do not have much (re: food, gifts, heated homes, etc.), some are thrown wildly out of comfort zones by long travel, unfamiliar places, and people (even family) that they do not know so well.
-> Not all kids thrive under an environment of “Santa is watching closely for every bad thing you do and will punish you harshly under the tree for imperfect behavior.”  I might argue that no kid does well with Santa as a hyper-surveillance bully, but parents and teachers do what they do.
-> Even for kids who LOVE all the holidays, grown-ups are very frequently not having a super fun exciting time.  Grown-ups are often stressed and grumpy by all of the various demands to make it a super exciting fun time, but that stress does impact everyone.
-> And when I say “grown-ups” I mean, quite possibly every adult the child comes into contact with.  Their parents, teachers, bus drivers, and even strangers in the store may all collectively shift from being sources of comfort and respite, to distanced/distracted/cranky/worried near-zombies.

To make all of this even more challenging:  the weather is often bitter, days are shorter, and everyone is prone to getting sick.

Certainly it’s always a matter of doing a mini-assessment of touching base with parents about what their holiday traditions do or do not include, and observing the child to gauge where s/he may be at in this whirlwind.  If everybody seems okay, it’s fine to incorporate activities and enthusiasm for the holidays.  If you’re getting the sense that these are not a part of the child’s home/cultural experience OR contribute to being overwhelmed, this is a good time to soften tone, rate, and expectations.  Two, keeping familiar structure and expectations help the child feel safe with you.  It ~might~ be fun to break routines and do crafts or make snacks or whatever…or it might send a learner further unanchored.

As always, being mindful goes a long way.

End blip.