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Practical Strategies for a Stress-Free, Calmer, Enjoyable Holiday
Sensory-Friendly Christmas Tips: Creating a Calmer, Enjoyable Holiday for Everyone
Christmas is a joyful time filled with celebrations, family gatherings, and holiday traditions. However, for children and adults with sensory sensitivities or autism, the hustle and bustle of the season can be overwhelming. From crowded holiday events to unfamiliar routines, the Christmas season can contribute to sensory overload. These sensory-friendly Christmas tips will help make your holiday celebrations more comfortable and enjoyable for everyone.
We’re grateful to Trish Hamilton, a digital marketer and mother of a child with sensory processing disorder and autism, for sharing her insights and strategies for a sensory-friendly Christmas in this blog.
Adjust Expectations for Christmas Celebrations
One of Trish’s top tips for parents is to adjust holiday expectations. Many of us want to recreate cherished Christmas memories or introduce new holiday traditions for our children, but it’s essential to choose activities that suit each child’s sensory needs. For example, while visits to Santa and Christmas parades are popular traditions, these sensory-rich events may be too overwhelming for children with sensory processing disorders. Large crowds, bright lights, and loud noises can lead to stress and sensory overload.
Consider adapting holiday traditions to fit your child’s needs. Choosing quieter, low-sensory activities can help build trust and make Christmas enjoyable in a way that feels right for your family.
Sensory-Friendly Christmas Tips for a Calm Holiday
1. Practice Through Play
Play is a valuable tool for introducing sensory-sensitive children to holiday experiences. Use playtime to explore holiday themes and discuss what Christmas might look like. You can role-play activities like opening presents, meeting family members, or attending a small gathering. Play also gives children a chance to express their thoughts, helping them feel more prepared and confident in new situations.
2. Use Photos and Videos to Set Expectations
Trish recommends looking at photos or videos of past Christmas celebrations to help children visualize and understand what to expect. Seeing familiar faces, decorations, and activities can help ease anxiety, build positive memories, and allow children to plan for potential sensory challenges. Use these moments to talk with your child about their likes, dislikes, and strategies they can use during Christmas events.
3. Keep Gatherings Small
The Christmas season often involves large family gatherings and events, which can be overwhelming for children sensitive to sensory input. Smaller gatherings are often less stressful and provide a manageable environment. If larger events are unavoidable, consider keeping visits brief and having a plan for a quiet space or an exit if your child needs a break.
4. Plan for Breaks and Meet Basic Needs
To help manage sensory overload during Christmas events, make sure basic needs are met. Before leaving for an event, check that your child is well-rested, hydrated, and has eaten. Taking care of these basics can help prevent stress from escalating. Packing snacks, drinks, and planning regular bathroom breaks can also make a big difference, ensuring everyone feels more comfortable.
5. Find Sensory-Friendly Christmas Activities in Your Community
More communities are offering sensory-friendly Christmas events, making it easier for all families to participate in the holiday spirit. Trish’s family, for example, participates in Sensitive Santa events where children can meet Santa in a calm, supportive setting. They also adapt traditional holiday activities to better suit her son’s needs; instead of attending a crowded Christmas parade, they watch it from a quieter, indoor location. Small adaptations like these can keep holiday traditions alive while making them more comfortable.
“We Don’t Need to Give Up Old Traditions, Just Create New Ones”
Creating a sensory-friendly Christmas doesn’t mean giving up the magic of the season. For families with sensory-sensitive children, it means adapting and finding what works best. Trish’s family motto is along the lines of: we don’t need to give up our old traditions, but let’s start some new and different ones. Special thanks to Trish Hamilton for sharing her valuable knowledge on how to create a more inclusive, sensory-friendly Christmas!
FAQ: Sensory-Friendly Christmas Tips
Q: What is a sensory-friendly Christmas?
A sensory-friendly Christmas involves adapting traditional holiday activities to reduce sensory overload, making the experience more comfortable for individuals with sensory sensitivities. This may include quieter gatherings, sensory-friendly decorations, and low-stress holiday events.
Q: How can I help my child enjoy a sensory-friendly Christmas?
Start by setting realistic expectations and planning smaller, calm gatherings. You can also use play, photos, and videos to introduce your child to holiday experiences. Prioritizing sensory-friendly activities and creating a quiet space at events can help your child feel more comfortable.
Q: Are there specific sensory-friendly holiday activities I should try?
Look for events in your community, such as Sensitive Santa visits or low-sensory Christmas parades. You can also create your own sensory-friendly traditions at home, like decorating cookies, reading holiday stories, or having a Christmas movie night.
Q: What if my child becomes overwhelmed during Christmas celebrations?
Plan for sensory breaks and have a designated quiet area available where they can take a break if needed. Meeting their basic needs for food, water, and rest before the event can also help reduce the chance of overload.
Q: Are there resources for creating a sensory-friendly Christmas?
Yes! Sensory Friendly Solutions offers a Sensory-Friendly 101 Course as part of our Training Membership, where you can learn more strategies to create welcoming and inclusive spaces. Our training membership gives you access to all the courses and resources you need to create sensory-friendly experiences at home, work and in your community.
Table: More Sensory-Friendly Christmas Suggestions
| Christmas Activity | Sensory Challenge | Sensory-Friendly Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Decorating the Christmas Tree | Bright, blinking lights and fragile ornaments. | Use soft lighting, non-breakable ornaments, and avoid flashing lights. |
| Gift Opening | Loud tearing noises and the unpredictability of surprises. | Open gifts slowly, use gift bags instead of wrapping paper, and preview gifts to reduce surprises. |
| Holiday Music | Loud or repetitive songs playing for extended periods. | Play soft, calming holiday music at a low volume or skip music altogether if preferred. |
| Baking and Decorating Cookies | Strong smells, sticky textures, and mess. | Use familiar ingredients, let children wear gloves if needed, and allow them to watch, take pictures or video rather than participate if preferred. |
| Santa Visits | Crowds, long lines, and bright decorations in busy malls. | Look for Sensitive Santa events in your area or arrange a private visit at home with a familiar family member dressed as Santa. |
| Christmas Crafts | Messy, sticky craft supplies like glue and glitter. | Opt for mess-free crafts, like sticker decorating or coloring holiday-themed pictures. |
| Christmas Parades | Large crowds, loud music, and flashing lights. | Watch the parade from a quieter, indoor location, or attend during less busy times. |
| Holiday Shopping | Busy stores, long lines, and strong scents. | Shop online if possible or visit stores during off-peak hours with a sensory kit for breaks. |
| Christmas Eve and Morning Traditions | Overstimulation from excitement and changes to sleep routines. | Keep routines as consistent as possible, add calming activities like reading, and allow for breaks throughout the day. |
This table provides practical suggestions to help create a sensory-friendly Christmas atmosphere, allowing everyone to enjoy the holiday season comfortably and joyfully.
Additional Support: Sensory-Friendly 101 Course
Want more guidance on creating sensory-friendly experiences year-round? Check out our Sensory-Friendly 101 Course as part of our Training Membership. This course provides tips and strategies for creating inclusive spaces that help everyone feel comfortable, from holidays to everyday life.
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Inclusive Celebrations All Year Round
Creating sensory-friendly environments isn’t just for Christmas! Every holiday can be adapted to be more inclusive and comfortable for sensory-sensitive individuals. Whether it’s Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, or birthdays, we have tips and resources to make each celebration enjoyable for everyone. Check out our blogs for other holidays to keep the spirit of inclusivity alive year-round!
- Fireworks for All: Creating Sensory-Friendly Community Events
- How to Create a Sensory-Friendly Halloween That Everyone Can Enjoy
- Sensory-Friendly Parades: A Guide to Inclusive Celebrations
- Creating a Sensory-Friendly Thanksgiving
For more inspiration and tips, be sure to explore our latest blogs and sign up for our newsletter to receive updates, sensory-friendly strategies, and ideas for creating welcoming spaces all year long.
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Christel Seeberger, BSc. O.T., is a regulated health care professional with over 30 years of experience in sensory disorders, disabilities and adapting environments. As someone with a hearing disability, Christel brings her personal lived experience with an invisible disability, sensory sensitivity and sensory overload to her work. In 2016, she founded Sensory Friendly Solutions to create a more sensory-friendly, accessible, and inclusive world through training, certification, product licensing, and product recognition. Christel’s expertise has been featured in guest blogs, as a radio and podcast guest, and in interviews with numerous media outlets, including CBC, CTV, Global News, AMI, Yahoo Life, the Globe and Mail, and local Fox TV/News.
