Thanksgiving and the upcoming holidays can be a meaningful and enjoyable time for family and friends. However, many families of children with autism can find this time of year stressful. Common holiday experiences, such as visiting with family members, cooking, and trying new foods can be overwhelming. Preparing for the holiday season often requires thoughtful planning and adjustments to create a comfortable environment for all. Below are some tips that may help to establish a successful day and to minimize sensory overload:

1. Identify expected changes to routine, such as spending longer than usual time with family members, being in a new setting, having more than usual number of people at home, and school closings. These changes can cause an increase in emotional responding and stress for the family. Identifying potential triggers ahead of time can help everyone look for signs that a child needs a break as well as plan for accommodations beforehand. In addition, expressing these changes to your child can allow them to feel more prepared to handle the upcoming changes.

2. Prepare a predictable schedule for the day. Your family can use visual aids, like a written or picture-based timeline of events, to help provide structure and reduce anxiety. Take time to review the schedule. You can even create a picture book of previous holidays as a reminder of what to expect. When creating the schedule, include activities and routines that your child is used to as well, such as sticking to a similar bedtime or scheduling in their daily screentime.

3. Make sensory-friendly accommodations, such as dimming bright lights or limiting noisy background sounds. If your family is away from home, consider bringing familiar items from home. This can include fidgets, tablets, preferred blankets and even preferred plates and cups. Ensure that your child has any typical accommodation readily available, such as headphones or weighted vests.

4. Prepare for food preferences by bringing your food for your child or begin introducing new foods on your child’s plate in the weeks leading to Thanksgiving. A holiday event is most likely not the best time to push a new food on someone with food sensitivity, but we can work towards tolerating new foods in the environment.

5. Provide privacy options for individuals with autism. If hosting your own Thanksgiving, you can prepare by setting up a safe space in the home for the individual or ask the host for a quiet safe space where the child can go to decompress.

6. Give tips to family members. Speak with family members about the child’s communication preferences, sensory needs or behaviors they may not be used to. Provide helpful advice, such as not forcing verbal communication or asking your child to pose for pictures.

7. Host Specific tips: As a host, you can help by giving estimated times for Thanksgiving activities and food menu. Hosts can also provide a quiet space to eat, which could help avoid sensory challenges around new or overwhelming textures. Additionally, think about giving the individual the opportunity to engage in meaningful, low-stress activities such as helping with meal prep, setting the table, or participating in quiet games. This can encourage social participation and create positive associations with the holiday.

Whether hosting your own holiday gathering or attending someone else’s event, it’s important to respect personal preferences and communicate openly about change and expectations. This ensures that Thanksgiving is a pleasant and manageable experience for everyone involved. If there are any common areas of difficulty during holiday gatherings, we encourage you to ask your ABA team for help! The therapists at Choices are more than happy to provide more specific to your needs. We are beyond thankful for the opportunity to be a part of our family’s journey. Happy Thanksgiving!

16 ways to prepare children with autism for holidays. Easterseals. (n.d.). https://www.easterseals.com/support-and-education/living-with-autism/16-ways-to-prepare-children-with-autism-for-holidays.html