Supporting Children on the Autism Spectrum During the Holidays (Updated 2024)

For many of us, the holiday season is something we look forward to all year long. It’s a time when we come together with family, friends and others close to us to take a break from “normal life,” celebrate and be joyful.

For children on the autism spectrum, the holiday season can be a much different experience. Some may not understand the significance of the holidays, and some may even experience added uncertainty and anxiety as a result of the festivities.

The holiday season often brings with it an overload of the senses, unfamiliar situations and dramatic changes in the normal routine — all things that could easily overwhelm children who have autism.

Supporting children on the autism spectrum during the holidays, then, can be a big challenge. But, by implementing well-thought-out strategies, you can help make the holiday season enjoyable for children with autism, too.

Here are some ways you can help.

Table Of Contents

Get Them Involved

All children loved to be involved in the process — whether it’s something in-depth such as preparing for holiday events or simple tasks such as making breakfast. Not only does it make them feel important, special and valued, but it helps them to understand what’s happening and why.

This is especially important for children with autism, who may have trouble understanding major changes that are going on around them — even if they celebrated the same holiday last year.

There are many ways that you can get your children involved in holiday preparation. They can help to decorate your house, prepare holiday cookies, choose gifts and even help wrap them.

Help Them Understand What’s Going on in Advance

Preparation and setting expectations are key for children with autism. Foreign environment with a lot of sensory stimuli could easily overwhelm them.

Unfortunately, this scenario is the norm for many children with autism. Even familiar surroundings can become unfamiliar to them during the holiday season, as decorations, music, smells and more change.

During the holiday season, change and alterations are the norm, as are social gatherings where certain things will be expected of those attending. The more you can prepare children for autism of what they’re going to experience, and what’s going to be expected of them, the more successful they’re likely to be.

You can even help guide your children through the likely interactions they’re going to encounter, which can help them feel more comfortable.

Cater Gatherings to Them

If you want your child to enjoy the holidays, it’s best to put them in the situations in which they’re most likely to succeed. Big gatherings with a lot of people and a lot of sensory inputs can be very intimidating to people who have autism.

So, consider making your holiday celebrations smaller and more intimate gatherings. Having fewer people present will make it more comfortable for your child, as will surrounding them with familiar faces.

In addition, it’s a good idea to create a separate place where they can retreat to if at any point they become overwhelmed by all that’s going on. This can be easier if the event is held in your own home, but even if it’s not, there are steps you can take to accommodate.

For instance, you can talk to your family and friends about what challenges your child faces and what may make them feel uncomfortable or cause them to be overwhelmed. You can ask the host of the celebrations to set aside a separate room where you and your child can retreat to for a breather if necessary, and bring whatever familiar items such as toys or books that they can bring with them to that room.

When you educate your family and friends about what your child with autism is experiencing, they’ll be better prepared to support them and you at the same time.

Have Amazing Holiday Celebrations

The holiday season can be quite overwhelming not just for children with autism but their parents as well. The holidays are a time of celebration, of coming together, of support, of giving and of joy.

You can make the season a joyful one for your child on the autism spectrum by integrating some of the pre-planned steps outlined ahead.

If you ever have any questions, or need additional support for your child on the autism spectrum, please contact Blue Gems ABA today.