Bah, Humbug
Although some people really thrive on all the excitement of the holidays, others are not so filled with Christmas cheer. The ups and downs of Christmas can be challenging for everyone, but particularly for individuals with autism. Being aware of seasonal strains helps us make holiday plans that will increase joy for all.
Listen Now:
or
The holidays tend to times of either feast or famine – either long periods of boredom while waiting for things to happen, or times filled with excessive people, noise, lights, and excitement. Let’s look at some of the stressful situations that arise during the holiday season.
FREE TIME. A change in daily routine and extended periods of unstructured free time can be difficult for many individuals with autism. Pre-teens and teens can struggle with lack of contact with their peers and friends with whom they spend a great deal of time at school or regular activities.
SENSORY INPUT. Some youngsters are not able to process the myriad of sensory input – holiday lights, seasonal sounds, the smell of new foods, tree decorations, pretty packages, and lots of people.
TEMPTATIONS. The holidays are filled with lots of new temptations, ranging from “no touch” holiday decorations to hidden secret gifts. People who have dietary restrictions are tempted with “off limits” foods, and the flood of sugar causes a strain.
EXPECTATIONS. Being around extended family can cause parents to feel more pressure for their youngster to be well-behaved, cute and/or smart, and generally perfect.
HOUSE GUESTS. House guests mean more activity and more conversations to be processed, and a person with autism might even have to give up the comfort and security of their bed for a night or two.
STRESS. Parents are often juggling work with holiday preparations. It can also be difficult for working parents to find childcare for youngsters with autism, especially for pre-teens and teens. Mix in financial challenges and maybe some strains in relationships with extended family, and you will find a situation filled with stress that can effect everyone in the household.
ROAD TRIPS. The long, seat-belted ride and the change in routine can cause agitation and discomfort. And, if one passenger in the car is grumpy, the mood is contagious. Road trips are just one more challenge our friends with autism and their families face during the holidays.
The first step in helping smooth over some of these situations is awareness of the strain they cause for people with autism. It isn’t necessary to ban all celebrations, but rather to realize the effect of the festivities on your friend and to guide them through the holiday trials. Your efforts can turn most “bah, humbug!” responses into “joy to the world!”
Note to FAQautism.com 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
Automatically generated related posts:
- Humbug Holidays Although some people really thrive on all the excitement of...
- No Holiday Cheer Although some people really thrive on all the excitement of...
- Happy Holidays We are continuing our discussion about aspects of holidays that...
- Holiday Blues Most of us enjoy the leisure pace of holidays. We...
- Family Gatherings Some families avoid family gatherings during the holidays because of...