I went shopping recently and the store was already playing holiday music. If you ask me, American commercialism is jumping the gun. Let’s at least get through the turkey and stuffing before we start talking about how it’s the most wonderful time of the year. While the holidays can be a time to gather with friends and family and spend time with one another they can also present stress and potential difficulty for many families of children and adults with autism. While I do look forward to the holidays and being able to see family, sometimes all the commotion of having lots of people gather can be a bit overwhelming.
To help with this, my family always makes sure that there is a quiet room available in case I need a break. If we go out somewhere, I always make sure to carry a fidget toy with me or if it gets too overwhelming, I just go take a break for a few minutes and come back when I’m ready. In addition to auditory stimulation, I have also struggled from a young age with tactile stimuli. My family celebrates Christmas and although I look forward to giving and receiving gifts each year, when I was young, going to visit Santa and having to sit on his lap was always hard. I would eventually do it, but I never liked the noise, the crowded mall, or having to stand in line. If I were a little kid today, I would have probably gone to a sensory friendly Santa event.
I think one of the most important things for families to remember is to really understand as much as possible, the challenges, strengths, and limits of their loved one with autism. Celebrate when things go well and do your best to plan so that they can, but don’t expect things to go perfectly. Also, you may want to set up activities so that your loved one feels comfortable participating as much as possible. Don’t force it, but encouragement can be great even if it means partnering them with a buddy such as an older cousin or sibling. However you celebrate, I hope you and your families enjoy a happy holiday season and all the best in the coming year.
Note: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and are intended for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the official stance of IRCA and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, educational, or therapeutic advice.