Sensory Integration Matters: Coping with Christmas with children and adults with sensory integration challenges

Christmas can be a wonderful time of year but also a stressful confusing time of year for our children. For children who are more comfortable with routine, everything is changing. Consider the following if Christmas feels stressful:

• Stay at home – prepare relatives for different expectations

• Spread visits over a longer time

• Allow your child to leave the room

• Make time to go outside

• Minimise the build up to Christmas

• Maintain routine

• Only put up decorations just before Christmas

• Avoid flashing lights

• Don’t wrap presents individually

• Don’t wrap presents at all

• Put batteries in in advance

• Share out presents over a few days

• Give permission to open presents elsewhere – e.g. away from the giver – thank you cards can be sent afterwards

• Choose food so it’s easy to prepare and comfortable for everyone to eat