By: Jairin Dela Cruz, BCBA, LBA, DBH-C
The holidays can be a wonderful, exciting time of year. The sights, sounds, and festivities make it fun for everyone, but for children on the autism spectrum, holiday travel, changes in routines, and new places and people can be a lot to handle. Too much change, stimulation, or novelty can lead to stress and sensory overload. Understanding why the holidays can be hard and thinking ahead can help your child embrace the season with confidence.
Many children with autism thrive on predictable routines and schedules. When changes arise, anxiety can increase, and problem behaviors like meltdowns or withdrawal can occur. Holidays can also include loud noises, bright lights, and large crowds, which can be challenging. These aren’t “bad behaviors” on your child’s part; they are their best attempt to cope with new or overwhelming stimulation.
Lucky parents in Henderson, Las Vegas, and Reno, Nevada! At Best Buds ABA, we can provide local support to help your family enjoy the holidays with less stress and more confidence. To make things easier, our professional therapists have prepared a list of practical strategies to help your child feel calm, safe, and ready to embrace the season.
5 Strategies for a Calmer Holiday
- Keep Things Predictable. Use visual schedules that show activities with pictures, icons, or words. Review the plan each morning and talk through what will happen: Example: “First breakfast, then presents, then visit Grandma, then quiet time.” Visual schedules help children know what to expect and reduce anxiety (Dettmer et al., 2000; Knight et al., 2015).
- Practice Through Role-Play: Act out what might happen before an event or outing. This can include role-play to greet relatives, take turns opening presents, or ask for a break. You can use toys or dolls to role-play or just act it out together.
- Role-play helps children anticipate and prepare for new situations.
- Practice calm coping skills in a low-pressure environment.
- Praise or reward efforts: “Great job asking for a turn!”
- Practicing skills in a controlled environment leads to greater success in real life (Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2020).
- Create a Calm Space. Holidays are exciting but can also be loud, busy, and overstimulating. Set aside a quiet space your child can go to feel calm and regulated: a separate room, a corner, or even the car. Include items that will help your child stay comfortable: headphones, fidget toys, sunglasses, or a favorite blanket or stuffed animal. Strategies like this can help children manage stress and participate in activities more comfortably (Baranek et al., 2002; Autism Speaks, 2023).
- Maintain Core Routines. Sticking to a familiar bedtime routine and mealtimes for sleeping, eating, and calming activities can help maintain a sense of normalcy. Keep the same favorite bedtime items or snacks available when traveling to make your chid feel secure. Maintaining consistent parts of your child’s routine can reduce stress and lead to improved behavior (Boyd et al., 2014).
Feeling overwhelmed or scared as you prepare for the holidays?
Families across Nevada, trust the devoted team at Best Buds ABA Therapy to provide personalized support for their children
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the science of teaching skills, reinforcing positive behaviors, and setting up structured, supportive environments.
ABA therapists can help your child enjoy holiday traditions with less stress and more confidence by teaching them to:
- Follow new routines and schedules.
- Communicate wants, needs, and asking for breaks.
- Practice coping strategies in a safe setting.
- Participate in activities with less stress.
With a little preparation and the right supports, children on the autism spectrum can enjoy family traditions and the fun of the season while learning valuable life skills that last far beyond the holidays.
Reach out today to make this season joyful and manageable for your family.
References
Autism Speaks. (2023). Sensory supports for children with autism. https:
//www.autismspeaks.org/sensory-support
Baranek, G. T., Foster, L. G., & Berkson, G. (2002). Sensory defensiveness in children with developmental disorders. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 56(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.56.1.50
• Boyd, B. A., McDonough, S. G., & Bodfish, J. W. (2014). Evidence-based behavioral interventions for repetitive behaviors in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44 (12), 3063–3076. https: //doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2149-4
• Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson.
• Dettmer, S., Simpson, R. L., Myles, B. S., & Ganz, J. B. (2000). The use of visual supports with young children with autism. Journal of Early and Intensive Behavior Intervention, 1 (2), 93–107. https: //doi.org/10.1037/h0100277