Holiday Sanity: Navigating Sensory and Social Peace with Atypical Kids

Design your family's survival guide with mindfulness, flexible planning, communication, and sensory sensitivity in mind.

Photo by Vitolda Klein on Unsplash

The HOLIDAYS are coming…

I know they can be intense, especially for neurodiverse families. The change in routine can be tough for our kids, and the pressure to perform for our extended families and communities can be tough on us parents.

You’re not alone in whatever you're feeling. Maybe you're excited, maybe you're stressed, or maybe you're a mix of both. Give yourself some grace.

Flexible Planning

You can address obstacles in advance with a loose plan. One year I was feeling particularly brave, and insisted on discussing my concerns and planning in advance with our host. We talked about what was important to each of us, and what wasn't. We decided that enjoying ourselves as a family was more important than perfect manners or a spotless house. After that conversation, I felt so relieved, and our plan went well! It’s good to have a backup plan in case things don't go according to plan. This could be a quiet activity, a favorite movie, or a sensory fidget…