Making Christmas easier for neurodivergent children
It’s the most wonderful time of the year but for many neurodivergent children, it can be one of the most difficult ones too. Neurodiversity is an umbrella term that covers many different conditions such as autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyscalculia, and Tourette’s Syndrome among others. Here are some top tips for making Christmas Day easier for neurodivergent children:
Change in routine
Christmas Day means all the normal rules are suspended so we can eat, drink and be merry. For some neurodivergent people, this can be distressing as they find routine soothing and important.
Tip: Clear communication can help people to know what to expect and when such as when to expect food or presents. If you can, keep your normal times for food or bed you can which can help the day seem less overwhelming.
Socialising and burnout
The Christmas season means extra visiting or parties which can be especially exhausting for neurodivergent children. They may feel pressure to behave in different ways or be in new environments that they wouldn’t normally be in. This may lead to burnout or a shutdown where it all becomes too much.
Tip: Establish a code word or let your child know they can tell you if they need to leave to go for some space. Go for a quiet walk or if the event is at your house then set up a quiet room with low light that they can escape to.
Sensory toys
If you are thinking of stocking filer presents - why not invest in sensory toys? This could be something like fidget spinners or liquid timers but there are many different types out there.
Christmas cards
Christmas can mean a lot of extra reading and writing between cards and present tags. However, for children with dyslexia or dyspraxia, this can feel impossible and exhausting.
Tip: Get creative! Neurodivergent kids are often creative so why not make a seasonal video or artwork that they can get involved with instead of cards? Zoom or phone calls can also cut down on cards.
Xmas tree lights
It's hard to get away from the fact that there are extra lights everywhere! For some neurodivergent children, this can be overstimulating to the point of painful and intrusive especially flashing lights.
Tip: Reduce the number of lights in the house avoiding any that flash or buy some that are not as bright. Why not consider only allowing the lights on for short periods at the weekend or evening?
Christmas dinners
Lots of neurodivergent people have sensory issues with food that can lead to uncomfortable mealtimes. Many have routines, safe foods or eat the same foods repetitively to avoid this. Christmas dinners can be a bit of a nightmare as there are unfamiliar foods or textures. Not to mention eating at different times than the usual routine.
Tip: Plan a menu with your neurodivergent child allowing them to make changes where they can to give a sense of control and inclusion. If someone needs to leave food on the plate, don’t make a scene just allow them to do it. Let them leave the table or bring sensory toys with them to the meal.
Happy Christmas and New Year everyone!
Fostering comes in many different shapes and sizes. Could you foster? Find out more here: https://fostering.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/
These tips were kindly provided by Enhance the UK, the team who led the workshops during our Diversity Day in May. Enhance the UK is a charity run by disabled people. We are passionate about the society we live in, and want to change the way disability is viewed for the better. We work with businesses all over the UK and abroad, supporting them in achieving their inclusion goals. You can find out more about their work here: enhancetheuk.org