Red, White, and Blue
“My daughter loves to look at fireworks, but she is very sensitive to loud sounds,” wrote the dad of a pre-teen with autism. “Fireworks just don’t look the same on television. What can I do to help her enjoy the celebration?”
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SOME IDEAS If you do a little homework in advance, your family can enjoy the fireworks without the agitation that many folks with autism experience in the presence of loud, random noises.
1. Find out the approximate time and the location of the big fireworks display for 4th of July in your community or a surrounding community.
2. Several nights before the celebration, scout out a hill or a park at least 1 mile away from that location that would allow you to see the pretty lights without so much sound.
3. If your daughter is especially sensitive to the sounds, you can even stay in the car at your lookout with the windows up. In order to capture the spirit of the day, pop in a CD of John Phillip Sousa patriotic marches to play while the fireworks are bursting in air!”
You can also plan some other ways to celebrate the Red, White, and Blue.
+ Grab strawberries and blueberries from a roadside stand or grocery store and put over ice cream or yogurt or cool whip for a patriotic treat.
+ Pack a picnic and take a drive through your slice of America the Beautiful.
+ Play “Name That Tune” with patriotic songs – Yankee Doodle, You’re a Grand Old Flag, National Anthem, God Bless America,
+ Put on sun-visors, grab a bottle of water and a lawn chair for everybody, and enjoy your hometown parade.
+ Better yet, be part of the parade! Put some hay bales in the back of a pickup, gather up your youngster and a bunch of friends, put red t-shirts on everyone, and pile in the back of the pick-up. Give the kids flags on sticks to wave and life-savers or other wrapped candy to throw at the crowd.
NOTE TO LISTENERS AND READERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. You can click on a button to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solutions. Check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. www.FAQautism.com
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