Creating a Calm Christmas Environment for Overstimulated Kids

The holidays are a magical time, but for neurodivergent kids, the sensory overload can make the season overwhelming. In this episode, Jess shares her top strategies to create a calm and enjoyable Christmas environment for the whole family. From sensory-friendly decorations to manageable traditions and outdoor activities, this episode is packed with ideas to help you balance festive excitement with your child’s needs. Whether you’re celebrating in summer or winter, these tips will help you plan a Christmas that’s meaningful, joyful, and stress-free.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How to create sensory-friendly holiday decorations.
• The benefits of single-sense activities for reducing overwhelm.
• How to establish small, predictable family traditions.
• Tips for incorporating outdoor activities with a Christmas twist.
• Using visual holiday countdowns to provide structure and predictability.

Key Takeaways:

• Simplify Decorations: Use calming colours and limit decorations to one area to avoid overstimulation.
• Single-Sense Focus: Engage your child with activities that focus on one sense at a time, like a sensory bin or baking with holiday scents.
• Silent Nights: Designate a weekly quiet evening to give your child’s sensory system a break.
• Nature-Based Traditions: Plan calming outdoor activities, like beach picnics, nature walks, or scavenger hunts.
• Holiday Countdown: Use a visual calendar to give your child a sense of control and structure over the holiday schedule.

This Week’s Highlights:

• Weekly Kryptonite: Jess shares how she learned the importance of planning quiet breaks during large family gatherings to help her son manage sensory overload.
• Wonder Woman Moment: A mum created a sensory-friendly beach Christmas picnic, complete with calming snacks, a small tree, and a shell-collecting activity.

Practical Tips for Parents:

1. Simplify Holiday Decorations: Choose soft colours and limit the use of flashing lights or overwhelming displays.
2. Engage in Single-Sense Activities: Try a sensory bin, holiday baking, or a Christmas light tour from the car.
3. Establish Small Traditions: Create gratitude ornaments, nightly holiday stories, or simple crafts with natural materials.
4. Plan Outdoor Activities: Incorporate nature walks, beach outings, or scavenger hunts to balance indoor excitement.
5. Use Visual Schedules: Create a countdown calendar with daily activities and rest days for predictability.

New Therapy Slots Available: Due to popular demand, we opened up an extra day at her practice in Oxenford, offering revolutionary therapies for neurodivergent children. Limited spots available—click this link to inquire https://www.halaxy.com/book/little-superheroes/location/1140031

Consultation & Training Services: We also offer consultation and training services to childcare centres and schools with special needs departments. If you know anyone who could benefit, please contact us 0410 053 611 / [e-mail]

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