09/12/2024
Christmas is exciting and fun for a lot of people, but if your child is anxious, or has a neurological condition such as Autism or ADHD, Christmas can be difficult and overwhelming. Here are some tips for reducing stress during the Christmas period:
đIf possible, make plans in advance, and make sure your little(or not so little)one knows where you will be going, what you will be doing, who will be there and so on. Consider their social capacity, and maybe try and spread visits or trips over the Christmas period.
đA visual schedule, list or calendar can work well for a lot of children, and helps them to see what is happening and what to expect next. Try and keep to routines as far as possible, sticking to normal bedtimes etc.
đTry to think ahead and consider potential triggers for distress or overwhelm. Loud music, flashing lights, cooking smells, candles, crowds- these can all cause discomfort or stress for an anxious or neurodivergent child. Lights and decorations might be exciting for some people, but the sudden and unexpected change to their world can cause huge anxiety for autistic children. Consider also whether you may need to take ear defenders or your child's favourite familiar foods when you go out (and don't feel bad if Christmas dinner ends up being chicken nuggets or pizza!)
đIf possible, prepare family members or friends, so that they can support you in making visits as comfortable as possible for your child. They could let you know in advance what you will be doing or eating, and could even turn lights off, turn music down and so on during your visit.
đWhere you can, make sure that your child knows where there is a quiet area that they can escape to if things do become overwhelming.
đSchool plays, concerts, nativities or parties can be a huge source of stress for some children. Getting changed, noise, sitting around waiting, a different routine with practices, walks to church and so on can be extremely hard to cope with. Talk to teachers about finding your child a role that they are comfortable with, find out in advance when practices will be and put them on the visual timetable, prepare your child in advance, ensure they have had time to try on and get used to their costume and consider having some quiet fidget toys in the hall or church to keep them regulated. They may prefer to participate in one performance rather than several. All just things to consider to try and ensure that all children can be included without becoming distressed or overloaded.
đPlan for decompression days during the holidays where your child (and you!) can just spend time relaxing at home.
đAutistic children especially can struggle with exchanging presents. Some are unsure how they are expected to respond, and the whole experience can be overwhelming for them. Presents could be spread over the Christmas period, you could ask family or friends that presents could be left unwrapped, or explain politely why your child might prefer to open presents at a different time.
đDonât forget time for you. There may be certain things that are stress-inducing to your child, but you may still be able to do them with someone else.
The most important thing to remember is that everybodyâs idea of a happy and stress-free Christmas looks different. Donât feel pressured by the âperfectâ images that you might see on social media. Ask for help and focus on what works for your family.
HAPPY CHRISTMASđ
Emotional support for children and families
