Sensory Survival Kit for Christmas
Free, expert advice and guidance to help manage the sensory challenges presented by the festive season and make this Christmas a bit calmer
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, sang Andy Williams about Christmas. But for some children, the noise and excitement of Christmas can be a challenge. That can mystify or even upset those around them. After all, why wouldn’t a child love Christmas?
Photo by Greg Rosenke
One reason is that so much of traditional Christmas activities have a sensory appeal, such as brightly coloured wrapping paper, twinkling lights, the loud singing of carols, special food and drink and big get-togethers of people. Then there are changes to established routines at school and at home.
For children with sensory processing differences – which can include autistic children and those with ADHD – this can all be difficult to manage. It might even be overwhelming. The result can be that, despite the best efforts of grown-ups, some children find Christmas very hard work. That can make Christmas hard work for those around them, too.
Luckily, help is at hand. The expert team at not-for-profit training provider Sensory Integration Education has produced a free Christmas Sensory Survival Kit full of practical advice and tips in nine sections. It covers everything from what to wear when out and about, ways to better manage Christmas activities at school, putting up Christmas decorations and preparing food, as well as the all-important issue of giving and receiving presents.
The guide also includes ‘experience tips’ from neurodivergent blogger Purple Ella.
What’s more, the team have shared a sensory gift guide for children, top 10 tips for managing social pressures and sensory challenges over Christmas, and five Christmas-themed and fun activities to help with gross and fine motor skills. The latter, which will also help to develop body awareness and tactile discrimination, include making your own snowman from a drink bottle and scrunched up paper, and creating a picture of a giant gingerbread person.
The team at Sensory Integration Education also provide free, expert help for parents and carers through Sensory Help Now, which includes a range of free short courses to help people better understand sensory processing and integration, as well as to manage such issues as after-school meltdowns. In short, there are plenty of resources to help manage Christmas and provide support through the new year.
In addition, earlier this year, we spoke to Beth Smithson, programme facilitator at Sensory Integration Education about the team’s efforts to promote sensory inclusive schools.
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