Top Tips For An Autism-Friendly Christmas

The most wonderful time of year, whether you’re hosting a big family event or spending hours decorating your Christmas tree – the holidays are simply magical. However, for children with autism and related disorders, they can also be a little daunting. This is due to the fact that they’re leaps and bounds away from their usual routine; with unplanned visitors popping by, time off school, and the potential for sensory overload at every possible corner. 

However, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are plenty of elements of the festive period that your children are sure to love – from giving and receiving gifts to rewatching their favorite holiday movies. As with any celebrations, from birthdays to thanksgiving, it’s easy to make the event as autism-friendly as possible, it simply requires some careful planning ahead of time.

With that in mind, here are some top tips for an autism-friendly Christmas! 

Keep routines consistent where possible. 

Putting together a clear routine is a great way to help your child thrive in any environment. This is due to the fact that it can provide them with the structure and stability that they require to function as normal. While it may be impossible to stick entirely to your usual routine during the festive period, being as consistent as possible in your day-to-day activities will go a long way towards helping your child feel more comfortable. For example, you could ensure that you: 

• Stick to your usual meal times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 
• Set your alarm for the same time each morning. 
• Add Christmas events to your calendar, so your child/children know what to expect. 
• Let your children know when you are expecting guests, and encourage them to arrive at a specific time so your children are not caught unaware.
• Help your children stay up to date with their hobbies and daily activities where possible, including attending any in-person or online therapy sessions used to help them better manage their autism. 

Think carefully about your decor.

Whether you prefer an artificial tree or the real deal, decorating your home for an autism-friendly Christmas can be a lot of fun – especially as it is an activity that the whole family can get involved in. However, when decorating, you should be particularly mindful of any sensory issues that your children may deal with as you do not want to make them feel uncomfortable in their own home. For example, while fairy lights are a great way to bring some sparkle into your lounge, they aren’t always the most autism-friendly choice of decorating, especially if they blink on and off or change colors frequently. 

Keep the Christmas songs on a low volume.

Playing (and replaying) your favorite Christmas songs is a great way to get the party started – whether you’re a fan of Mariah Carey or Michael Buble. However, if you want to keep your party as autism-friendly as possible, you should ensure that you keep the noise down to an acceptable volume. This is due to the fact that children with autism and related disorders often react negatively to loud noises. In fact, a recent report from the interactive autism network found that approximately 65% of children with autism are sensitive to noise. It may also be worth purchasing some noise-canceling headphones for your child.

Put together an autism-friendly Christmas menu.

While each and every child experiences autism in a different way, many children with autism and related disorders are also quite specific regarding the kinds of food and drink they enjoy. Again, this is often linked to the way in which they approach certain senses, such as taste and texture. For example, they may not like the texture of certain foods, or the way they feel in their mouth – and as a result, will refuse to eat them moving forward. While your parents may always have encouraged you to eat everything on your plate, it’s important that you do not force your child to eat something they do not enjoy. Instead, you should ensure you put together dishes and meals that you know they will enjoy. 

Listen to how they are feeling.

Listening to your child, and encouraging them to find ways to express themself is another great way for the whole family to enjoy the holidays. For example, when you put together your schedule for the holidays, you should discuss it with them in-depth and ask how they feel about certain events or activities. If they express discomfort, you’ll be able to soothe their worries or put alternative plans in place.

Whether your favorite part of thanksgiving is the famous football matches, spending time with your family, or second (and third) helpings of pumpkin pie – you’ll likely already have put some plans in place for how you plan to celebrate the big day. After all, many thanksgiving celebrations were put on hold last year, meaning that we have twice as many reasons to celebrate in 2021.

However, when a child deals with autism or a similar condition, enjoying a big family event can be a little more difficult. This is due to the fact that celebrations not only mark a clear deviation from their usual routine, they are also busy, loud, and over-stimulating – which could leave your child feeling incredibly uncomfortable. However, this does not mean that they have to miss out on the fun!

With that in mind, here are some top tips for planning the perfect (autism-friendly) thanksgiving celebrations.

• Talk to them about your plans ahead of time. Children with autism and related conditions prefer to stick to a strict routine in their daily lives since it provides them with a sense of structure and stability. Therefore, in order to ensure that you do not deviate too far from this during your thanksgiving celebrations, you should tell them about your thanksgiving plans in advance. This way, they will know what to expect from the day and will not be caught unaware. Mark the date clearly on your calendar, and speak about it frequently over the dinner table.
• Put together a new routine for the day. While you may have to abandon your daily routine to make room for your Thanksgiving plans, this doesn’t mean that your child’s day has to be without structure entirely. For example, you could put together a schedule for your day – whether you will spend time cooking in the kitchen or visiting friends and family.
• Read social stories. Social stories are short stories crafted to explain certain events or activities to children with autism so that they know what to expect from these scenarios. They are often written to introduce children to new concepts, such as starting school or visiting the dentist. However, they can also be used for big events and holiday celebrations. Here are some great examples of Thanksgiving Social Stories for you to try out.
• Keep the volume down. If your child deals with sensory issues, they may find loud noises particularly distressing. Therefore, you should speak with all guests ahead of time to request that they keep the conversation at a reasonable level when possible. You should also ensure that you do not play music or the television too loud. It may also be worthwhile to purchase some sound-canceling headphones for your child to wear (especially if your favorite team is playing football).
• Let your child step outside for a moment. If you notice that your child is showing signs of becoming overstimulated, then you should make it clear that they are free to remove themselves from the situation. For example, if you are having dinner over the table – let your child know it’s okay to go to their room for a little bit to calm down. If you are staying at a friend or relative’s house, create a safe (and quiet) space somewhere in their home for your child to retreat to if necessary.
• Go easy on the decor. Whether you’re a centerpiece pro or like to try your hand at arts and crafts around the holiday, you must ensure the dinner table is as autism-friendly as possible. Therefore, you should ensure that you don’t have too much decor around the house, as this could lead to overstimulation.
• Keep up with therapies. At Alee Behavioral, we offer a wide range of therapies for autism spectrum disorder that help children with autism and related conditions thrive in every situation, including the holidays. Therefore, while it may be a busy time for your family, it’s important that you don’t skip your therapy session – in fact, it may even be beneficial to schedule in an extra session during this time. If you’re away from home, you could even look into online therapy.

As a parent, you will always want what is best for your child. As a result, if you begin to suspect that they have a condition such as autism, you may be feeling concerned or even worried about what the future may hold for your child. After all, children with autism or related conditions experience life differently from their neurotypical peers and may need certain support fixtures in place to ensure they can reach their full potential. 

First things first, however, it’s important to remember that an autism diagnosis is not a bad thing. Therefore, if you are beginning to suspect that your child may have autism, it is important that you do not panic. We all have qualities that make us different from each other, and autism is simply one of these differences. Furthermore, those with autism can fully achieve their goals – no matter what they may be. That being said, getting that autism diagnosis can make a real difference to your child’s life for the better, as it means you’ll gain access to the appropriate support networks. 

According to recent reports, approximately 1 in 54 children in the US have been diagnosed with ASD, though it is also estimated that a quarter of kids with autism go undiagnosed. This is likely because autism manifests itself differently in each person – and there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ list of symptoms that you can apply to receive a diagnosis. 

Nevertheless, if you suspect that your child may have autism, there are certain steps you can take to ensure that you give them the support and love they need. For example, you should: 

Research the different signs of autism. 

As mentioned previously, no two people with autism will have the same experiences and symptoms, but parents can be on the lookout for certain signs of signifiers. As detailed by autism speaks, these symptoms may present themselves at different stages of your child’s development. For example, some of the earliest indicators of autism or a related disorder can be identified when a child is around six months old – such as limited eye contact or a lack of expression. Furthermore, when your child reaches their first birthday, you may notice a lack of babbling or chatter, alongside a lack of response to their name. 

Despite this, most autism diagnoses happen when children are around four years old – though boys are often diagnosed much quicker than girls. Other common symptoms of autism that you may notice during this time include: 

• Difficulty finding their voice. For example, your child may find it hard to communicate or may be entirely non-verbal. 

• A preference to spend time alone or difficulty socializing with their peers.

• Difficulty understanding social cues, feelings, and emotions. 

• Sensory processing issues. For example, your child may not like certain tastes or textures. 

• A strong desire to follow clearly established routines, with no variations or surprises. Sometimes they may react with extreme emotions when their routines are altered. 

• Repeated behaviors. 

Autism Speaks have also put together a quick survey for parents who may be considering looking into their child’s behavior further, which could give you some of the answers you are looking for. You can try it out here.  

Speak to a health professional.

After doing your research, if you still feel your child may have autism or a related disorder, it is time to look into getting a diagnosis. In some cases, medical professionals may prefer to wait until your child is over the age of two before they diagnose them. This is because all children develop differently and at different rates, so early diagnoses are sometimes discouraged – even though they can be beneficial.

Doctors and health professionals will diagnose children based on behavioral studies – as there are no medical tests that can actually be carried out. Once your child receives a diagnosis, they will also provide you with information on what you can do to best support them moving forward. For example, they may consider that you look into therapy services. 

At Alee Behavioral, we have a range of different therapy and clinical services on offer that can be specifically tailored to each child. For example, if your child is non-verbal, we can support them through speech therapy. 

Make lifestyle changes.

Once your child has received a diagnosis, you will then introduce changes into your daily life that enable them to reach their full potential. In addition to connecting with therapists, this could include putting together a daily routine that helps your child thrive by providing them with structure. You’ll also be able to figure out ways to slowly and safely introduce your child to change without overwhelming them. For example, you could begin by scheduling ‘surprises’ into their daily routine – by adding a question mark to a calendar and displaying it within your home. This way, your child knows that they will be trying something new and can prepare themselves a little for these changes. 

Don’t panic.

As mentioned previously, the most important thing to remember if you believe your child has autism (or if they have just received their diagnosis) is that you must not panic. Autism will not stand in the way of their success in any way whatsoever – and getting that diagnosis means that you’ll be able to provide them with additional care and support.

As both adults and children, the media we consume is often partly responsible for how we formulate opinions or view the world around us. This is because it often provides us with a framework that we can use when navigating situations that may be new to us or when meeting new people. Furthermore, it is important that children of all ages see themselves – or characters that look, act, and think in the same way they do – in media such as TV shows, films, and books. This is because it helps them feel seen, respected and shows that they too have a story to tell. It also promotes inclusion while ensuring that the culture we devour is representative of the whole population – as opposed to a select few. 

However,  media representation can also create subconscious biases and spread misinformation when certain characters or stories are not portrayed correctly. Unfortunately, this is often the case when characters with autism and related disorders are shown on our screens. For example: 

In 2020, music-star Sia released her directorial debut film, Music, which chronicled the life of a child with autism and her sister that cared for her. However, despite claiming that she merely wanted to represent autism on screen – Sia was criticized for what ultimately became a portrayal that relied on myths and stereotypes. Furthermore, many critics stated that some of the advice given within the film regarding how to support a child with autism is harmful and outdated – which could lead to a lot of trouble further down the line. 

This is troublesome for various reasons but can be particularly harmful to children with autism who do not deserve to see their behaviors reduced to a stereotype. They should be able to look at a character on screen and go; He’s like me because he’s smart, and he likes to do ____. They should feel validated by what they see – and not because they are made to be the butt of the joke. 

While Sia’s movie is not only concerning, it is not alone. In fact, Music can easily be added to a catalog of films where autistic characters are forced into stereotypes – even though autism is not a set of rigid behaviors and affects every person in different ways. Whether you are watching Rainman or Atypical – these problems present themselves again and again. 

With that in mind, when it comes to parenting a child with autism, how can you find materials for them that are not only suitable but will not leave them feeling reduced to a certain (incorrect stereotype)? After all, despite what these cinematic blunders may have made you think – children with autism and related disorders are not anti-social people who are happy to sit on the sidelines. In fact, with the proper support, therapy, and care, they can thrive in any situation that comes their way. 

Thankfully, with a call for better representation coming directly from the autistic community, there are ways in which you can help your child in this matter. For example, you can:

• Read books that feature authentic, well-constructed characters on the autistic spectrum. 

• Watch films and TV shows where portrayals of autism are positive, not reductive. For example, while it’s okay for them to demonstrate the struggles that may come alongside an autism diagnosis, they should not make autism seem as though it is a bad thing. A good example of this is the newly introduced Sesame Street Character Julia.  

• Keep an eye out for content put together by autistic creators – as who better to tell these stories than those with a lived experience of the condition? You could even encourage their creativity by getting them to write and tell their own stories.  

• Encourage your child to rise above stereotypes and be confident in who they are. So, they might be a little different from their peers – but that doesn’t make them any less fun, entertaining or bright. It puts no limits on what they can achieve – and differences deserve to be celebrated. 

In short, while consistent, authentic representation seems to be missing from popular culture – it is slowly finding its way into the mainstream. As such, you should continue to seek out this material wherever possible. 

In the USA, the average age for an autism diagnosis is around 3.8 years for boys and 4+ years for girls. This is because this is around the time when their differences to their peers become more apparent, whether this relates to how they carry themselves or socialize with others. However, many individuals with autism and related disorders do not receive their diagnosis until much later in life, sometimes even into adulthood (70% receive a diagnosis after turning 18). 

Nevertheless, while you may have noticed the signs of autism in your child from an early age, receiving an official diagnosis can feel daunting. 

With that in mind, here are some top tips for parents whose child has recently received their diagnosis on the steps you can take moving forward. 

• Remember that Autism is not a bad thing. Autism does not have to be perceived negatively – despite what popular media may have you think. It simply means that your child experiences the world in a slightly different way from the norm. But as we are all aware, being different isn’t inherently bad. Once you accept this mindset – you’ll soon realize that a diagnosis is nothing to feel sad or worried about – and it’s a step towards helping your child get the support they need to thrive. 
• Do your research – but rely on the experts. Whenever we receive a diagnosis, it’s only natural to want to google the condition and see what you can find out about it yourself. This is perhaps why there are thousands of articles published regarding autism every single day. However, some of them are far more accurate than others. As a result, you must get your information from trusted resources – such as reputable charities or doctors – instead of online gossip forums. 
• Put together a routine. Once your child has received their autism diagnosis, you must make some changes in your life to help them feel more comfortable and relaxed. For example, you may want to introduce a more formal, rigid structure and routine to your daily life instead of going with the flow. A clear routine is useful due to the fact that it removes the element of surprise from daily life so that your child always knows what to expect out of their day. This stops them from feeling overwhelmed.

Whether your kids are attending online school or have already returned to the classroom, with the new school year underway, it’s likely that they are going to be spending a lot of their time learning. However, while their academic pursuits are important, you should also ensure that they have plenty of fun outside of the classroom. After all, studies suggest that children learn just as much at home as they do in class – and having fun is a great way to relieve feelings of stress and anxiety in children of all ages.

With that in mind, here are some of the best after-school activities for children with autism and related disorders.

Sports Activities. 

As a parent, you are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that your children understand the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle. While there are various ways to achieve this goal, encouraging them to exercise regularly is a great way to get started. That being said, sometimes it can take a little while to find the sport that best suits your child – especially when children with autism and related disorders may prefer solo sporting endeavors instead of team sports. However, that does not mean that there is not an activity out there that they will fall in love with!

If your child is looking for a solo-sporting activity, then you may want to consider the following:

– Swimming
– Running
– Athletics
– Martial Arts
– Gymnastics
– Golfing

However, while they may take a little adjusting, team sports can prove incredibly beneficial for children with autism and related disorders. This is due to the simple fact that it encourages them to formulate better relationships with their peers while improving their ability to communicate. Great examples of team sports include:

– Soccer
– Baseball
– Basketball
– Dancing
– Tennis
– Badminton

Creative Activities.

Creative activities, especially those related to the arts, are a great way to foster creativity within your children and encourage them to express themselves more clearly. This shows them that there are plenty of different ways to communicate with others or express how they may be feeling.  Therefore, your child may benefit from spending some of their time outside of school participating in a local arts program. This could include:

– Theatre Classes
– Singing Classes
– Dancing Classes
– Painting/Sculpting Classes
– Model Building Classes

Group Activities. 

When looking for the perfect after-school activities for your child, you should keep an eye out for activities that will encourage them to hang out with other kids their age more often. This can be instrumental in helping your child step out from their shell and make new friends. As a result, you may want to sign your child up to join some form of society or group activity – perhaps one that is centered around their special interests or hobbies. For example, this could include:

– Girl Scouts
– Boy Scouts
– Trainspotting Club
– Photography Club

Family-time. 

While structured activities such as those listed above can be highly beneficial in supporting your child, you should also ensure that you leave time in their schedule for some much-needed family time. For example, you could head out for a daily walk or cook a delicious meal together each evening. Spending time with loved ones is another great way to reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and isolation – and it is just as beneficial for you as it is for your child – meaning that it is a win-win situation.

Put your child in charge.

As your children get older, you must let them take control of their own schedule and decide how they spend their time. After all, this helps them develop a sense of responsibility and agency that will carry them into adulthood. It also encourages a healthy sense of independence as they decide how they want to allocate their time. However, you should also be prepared to offer some guidance from time to time – especially if your child thinks the perfect after-school activity is playing the same video games over and over again.

In short, if you are searching for the best after-school activities for your child, you’ll be glad to hear that they are not in short supply. In fact, there are simply hundreds to choose from that simply did not make this list – but that does not mean they aren’t out there! If you would like more specific advice on how you can help your child – whether that be through finding the perfect hobby or through clinical services such as speech therapy or applied behavioral analysis -, please do not hesitate to get in touch today. We look forward to meeting you!

No student enjoys doing their homework. After all, after spending a busy day at school – they want to be able to dedicate their time to something a little more relaxing or fun, such as exploring their special interests or hobbies. However, for children with autism or related disorders, completing their homework could present them with a number of different challenges that they must combat. 

While the school year may be behind us, many teachers chose to set their student’s work to complete over the holidays. If not, it’s important that they develop these skills in time for the new academic year. 

With that in mind, here are some tips that you can use to help your child complete their homework (without the stress). 

• Add it to your calendar. Children with autism or related disorders prefer to stick to a certain routine – so you should ensure that homework is part of their schedule. For example, they could spend an hour or so after school working on their homework- when their mind is still focused. 
• Communicate with their teacher. Maintaining a relationship with your child’s teacher is another great way to ensure they are always on track when it comes to homework. For example, children are often asked to write down their homework tasks (and their due date) themselves. If your child is easily distracted in the classroom, they may forget certain details – which makes it harder for them to stay on track. Regular communication with their teacher ensures that homework does not slip through the net. 
• Help them when they ask. Children with autism and related disorders are often rather independent, but you must let them know you are there to support them if they need it – whether they are writing an essay or solving a maths equation.
• Choose a ‘homework spot’. If homeschooling or working from home has taught us anything – it’s that we all work best when we are free from distractions. Therefore, it’s important that you emulate this for your children when they are doing their homework. For example, they should work at a desk or at the dining room table instead of sitting in front of the TV. This creates the ideal work environment, allowing them to focus on their homework. 
• Help them relax. You may find that your child is a perfectionist when it comes to their homework – and that they become hyper-fixated on excelling academically. If this is the case, it’s important that you also let them know when it’s time to put down the homework and take a break. When children are young, they should also be focused on having fun outside of the classroom – and some things are more important than grades.

At Alee Behavioral, we have decades of experience working alongside children with autism and their families to give them the skills they need to thrive in their daily lives. Through a range of different online therapy and clinical services, we can help your child through just about everything they encounter – from homework to finding their voice. Get in touch today to find out more!