Winter can be a great time to be outdoors, but it can also be challenging for children with autism to deal with the sensory overload caused by the cold winter months and Christmas celebrations.
To help with this, parents can organize sensory-friendly activities that keep children entertained while reducing their exposure to potentially harmful stimuli. Through these activities, children with disabilities can improve their social skills and exercise their motor skills.
What do people with autism say about the winter holiday stress?
Winter comes with a stressful season of family gatherings, parties, shopping, and more. For many individuals with an autism spectrum disorder, this is when their meltdowns begin. Here are some challenges that autistic people confess they have to deal with during the winter holiday period:
“As a child, the holidays were indeed stressful on me, mainly due to sensory overload and gatherings of people. My advice is that you should provide plenty of quiet space, downtime, a heavy blanket, or a toy for calming, and remember that we are not purposely ‘being bad’ should there be a meltdown. Compassion, patience, and understanding that we are beautiful just the way we are can go a long way during the season.” — Melissa R.
“Sometimes ignoring the day as some special day that we have to prepare for is better. Our family has gone through a lot of depression and anxiety because there are so many expectations associated with the holidays. If we can just be more flexible and not try to pack a bunch of hopes and dreams into a single day, it works much better. Our families never really wanted to be at our house (not surprising) so it made it more depressing. We try to make smaller plans with different groups of friends and keep it small.” — Christine H.
“We always had a schedule of activities, and when people would be at our house, we talked about what was expected from them, how long the activity was. When it becomes overwhelming [kids] can retreat to their bedroom. We tried to be by the corner or edge at events/activities (sometimes with earplugs, books, tablets). Knowing what was coming and what was expected, and having a few helps really helped with anxiety levels.” — Lilla A.
Read also: 10 Sensory-Friendly Christmas Activities for Autistic Children.
How to reduce the stress related to the winter holidays
The first step in reducing the stress of the winter holidays is to plan ahead. Make sure your kids know what will happen on the big days and give them a chance to ask questions if they don't understand something.
If you're hosting a party, consider doing things like setting up a play area where kids can get away from the noise and chaos. You could even set up an area where kids can watch movies while everyone else gets ready.
Also, address the sensory overload issue by reducing the number of guests and keeping decorations simple.
Autism-friendly winter activities
The winter season often requires spending more time indoors, which may become boring at some point. To avoid this and get your autistic child to do some outdoor activities that are good for their physical health, here are some tips on how you can make winter fun and also safe for your child with autism:
- Make sure that your child wears warm clothing when going outside. If possible, have him wear layers so he can remove them as needed. Also, make sure his shoes are waterproofed or insulated.
- If your child has trouble regulating his body temperature, consider wearing a hat or scarf in addition to his coat.
- Keep your home warm and cozy. Make sure that your thermostat is set at a comfortable level, and that your furnace or heater is working properly.
- Consider taking advantage of the extra daylight hours to play indoor games like board games, card games, puzzles, etc.
- Have your child take part in an activity or sport where he feels comfortable. Consider hiring a professional coach if necessary.
- Try to avoid scheduling too many social events over the course of one week. This can cause your child to feel overwhelmed and anxious. Try to spread out the festivities over several days instead.
- Schedule regular short breaks throughout the day. The longer your child stays seated, the less likely he'll be able to focus on anything. Short breaks every hour or two will help keep him alert and focused
Examples of sensory-friendly winter activities
Here are some examples of sensory-friendly winter holiday activities that might work well for your family:
- Decorate the house using natural materials such as pine cones, dried leaves, or twigs.
- Use music that's soothing to your child.
- Play board games together.
- Take walks around the neighborhood.
- Read books or watch videos about animals or nature.
- Create a craft project together.
It's important to remember that not all children with the autism spectrum enjoy being cooped up inside during the cold months. Some find it difficult to tolerate the sudden change in weather and others just don't want to spend any time outside. Have this in mind when organizing activities during the cold season.
How to handle autistic meltdowns
Sometimes, no matter how much you try to avoid meltdowns, they still happen. Autistic meltdowns are difficult to predict and manage. They happen without warning and usually involve intense emotional distress. It's important to know what triggers these episodes and how to respond to them appropriately.
Here are some tips on how to handle autistic meltdowns:
- Know what causes your child to have meltdowns. Some children experience meltdowns because they're bored and others have meltdowns when they don't understand something or when they feel misunderstood.
- Learn how to recognize signs of a meltdown before it happens. If you notice any changes in behavior or mood, this may indicate that your child is having a meltdown.
- If your child has a meltdown, do not give in to his demands. Instead, distract him by playing with him or engaging him in other activities.
- Do not yell at your child during a meltdown because this only makes things worse. It's not their fault for having a meltdown and they surely shouldn't be yelled at or punished.
- Encourage your kid to express themselves through play, like drawing or coloring. For example, if your child likes to draw, encourage them to use crayons, markers, or even colored pencils. You could also buy toys that allow her to engage in creative play, like puzzles or building blocks.
For more advice on how to handle autism meltdowns, read this article.
Winter can be a fun season for autistic children
Even though there are many challenges associated with living in colder climates for children with autism spectrum, there are plenty of ways to make winter fun for everyone involved. We hope that this article has provided some insights that will help you create an enjoyable holiday season for both you and your family member with autism.
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