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Surviving the Holidays with a Sensory Sensitive Child
By Beth Beaudry, OTR/L
With the anticipation and preparation of the holiday season, all of us experience an increase in stressors, sensations and emotions. Now imagine how the child feels who experiences difficulties in interpreting the sensory world, where all sensations are intensified. Those of us who live with or work with children with sensory sensitivities know that the holiday season can be very challenging to survive and enjoy.
What might indicate that your child is experiencing sensory processing difficulties? Children with sensory challenges can display a wide range of behaviors and symptoms impacting their day to day comfort, functioning and socialization. All of us experience sensation through what we see, hear, feel, taste and smell. We also experience sensation from two lesser known systems: vestibular (from our inner ear) and proprioception (from our muscles and joints). These systems control our sense of balance and how comfortable we are with movement; and provide us with information regarding where we are in space and how our body is moving. Children with Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD) can experience difficulty responding appropriately to incoming sensations or can struggle with effectively interpreting sensory information. These challenges can often make our ever changing sensory world feel overwhelming, confusing or unknown. When children experience the discomfort of being overly sensitive to incoming sensations they may behave in a disorganized manner leading to excessive frustration, meltdowns, rigidity or refusals and aggressive behaviors.
The holiday season brings many heightened sensory experiences. The bright lights, holiday songs, family gatherings, trips to the mall, noisy toys and large crowds, coupled with the anticipation of Santa and gifts are enough to make most of us feel overwhelmed. In addition there are preparations for family festivities, visits to relatives’ houses and many changes in the child’s typical routine. Most adults (and children) will feel inundated at times with the holiday excitement and would benefit from strategies to help calm and regulate their systems. A parent of a sensory sensitive child will need to develop well thought out strategies to help the holiday season run as smoothly as possible. An occupational therapist who specializes in sensory integration can guide you in developing a “sensory diet” of organizing activities to help your child and family experience this time of year with more comfort and enjoyment.
Strategies may include ways to calm the environment, such as creating a cozy corner with a beanbag chair, blankets and stuffed animals to cuddle up and read in. Putting on soothing music such as classical or rhythmical children’s songs can be helpful. Exercise is organizing so try to incorporate movement and “heavy work” activities into your daily routines such as pushing the grocery cart, helping to unpack groceries, stirring, rolling and cutting cookie dough, getting outside to play in the backyard, and mouth ‘exercise’ such as bubbles, whistles, and crunchy or chewy snacks. Consider the sensations your child will encounter when going on outings and prepare them through short preparatory stories and pictures. It is often helpful to have some organizing sensory tools such as a fidget toy for their hands, a crunchy snack for their mouth, a movement activity like marching or hopping, and mommy or daddy hugs when a break is needed. Consider places in stores or stops between that offer a less busy space to give your child and yourself a pause from the hustle and bustle. For family gatherings predetermine a “safe” and quiet break place to help your child regroup and regulate his or her mind, body, and emotions. Watch your child for signs of overload and try to discontinue or change activities before meltdowns occur. You may need to eliminate or shorten certain outings to minimize stress. As much as possible build in or continue routines that the child knows and completes at other times of year to help maintain predictability.
If you suspect your child may have a sensory processing disorder, an important first step is seeking a professional evaluation. Talk to your child’s pediatrician or an occupational therapist specializing in sensory integration about your concerns.
Beth Beaudry, OTR/L
South Shore Therapies, Inc. provides both evaluation and treatment, including home programming and parent education for sensory processing issues and other difficulties impacting a child’s functioning in daily activities.
Please contact us and set up a free phone interview to discuss how we might help your child and family at 781-335-6663 or visit our website at www.southshoretherapies.com for more information.
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