The holiday season brings with it a lot of special activities and visitors. Those changes, while fun, can be challenging for those on the autism spectrum.

The holiday season can be overwhelming for everyone. Here are a few tips to make your holidays a little less stressful for you, your child, and your whole family.

1.)  Create a social story.

The holiday season brings with it a lot of special activities and visitors. Those changes, while fun, can be challenging for those on the autism spectrum. A social story can be a useful tool for many children. A social story is a handwritten or typed story, always written in first person, that can be read with a learner with autism to help give a “script” to prepare for an upcoming change. Social stories are a great way to tell your child what to expect in a specific event. You can use this tool to explain exactly what will happen and the expectations for your child. When creating your social story, be specific. Every detail you provide will only strengthen their preparation for the event. Read your social story multiple times before the event to help prepare your child.

Example: “On Friday, Grandma and Grandpa will come to visit. They will sleep at our house, in the guest room. When Grandma and Grandpa come over, they will take me to ride bikes and bring me a Christmas present. We can bake cookies too! If I need a break, I can go into my room and close the door. Grandma and Grandpa will leave on Monday.”

Minimizing holiday activities to the few most special opportunities can help reduce activity fatigue for your child.

2.)  Allow time to take a break.

Parties, outings, and events can be overwhelming for anyone. Noise level, number of people, and other stimulation can cause overload for your child. Be mindful of the environment while out and about and provide a break or “settle down” spot for your child in other settings or in your home if you are hosting events. Minimizing holiday activities to the few most special opportunities can help reduce activity fatigue for your child.

3.) Use visual aids and reinforcement when necessary.

Visual aids and reinforcement are something that your child is already familiar with. Continue to use these to help increase success with unfamiliar events throughout the holiday season. A “first and then” visual can help your child know what to expect.

Example: “First, we will eat dinner, then we will open gifts with our cousins.”

Many of us go to holiday events excited to see an out-of-town guest, enjoy a holiday beverage, or eat that special dish our aunt makes every year. Just as the event would be challenging for you if all those things were missing, it can be challenging for your child if they don’t have special things to look forward to. You can build these reinforcers into the social story or remind your child of which special things are available before each event.