Handling Thanksgiving with Children with Autism

Like many holidays, the sensory overload that accompanies Thanksgiving can be problematic for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For those children, and their parents, stress that goes along with this can make this wonderful holiday less enjoyable. Here are some tips to make sure your family gathering goes calm and easy.

• As always, planning your day ahead of time with your child’s needs in mind will make a big difference. Whether you will be spending much of the day consumed with traveling, seeing family, cooking or something else, knowing your child’s limitations, and planning to avoid overstimulation could save you from frustrating situations.

• There is always food abound on Thanksgiving. But while there might be a lot of food, you must plan to ensure that your child has something they are comfortable eating. You should consider packing some of your child’s favorite food, in case the Thanksgiving Feast does not include something they want.

• Family and friends can pack a house on Thanksgiving. This can be overwhelming for a child with autism. Make sure there is some space set aside for your child, so if they get overloaded, they can take some time alone to escape the crowd.

• Don’t go crazy with your home décor. While you might want to do up your house for guests, keep in mind that heavy decorations might make your child feel like they aren’t in their same, safe home.

• Make sure that guests who might be interacting with your child are familiar with autism, and the behaviors that your child might exhibit. This will prevent them from being alarmed, or acting in ways that might incite negative reactions from your child.

As always, we hope that you keep these tips in mind while preparing for your holidays. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!