This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 11:39 am and is filed under Autism Information. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Autistic Children and Holiday Celebrations
, 11 03rd, 2009
Autistic kids truly are creatures of habit – to the extent that minor deviations from a set routine can trigger temper tantrums and full-on freakouts. Luckily the Autism Society has offered a series of tips for family members dealing with autistic kids during Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas. Kids with the disorder generally like to be kept aware of what is going on around them. It’s up to each parent’s discretion as to when to tell kids about the impending holiday plans.
Seemingly minor household changes – including the presence of visitors and decorations – can be troubling to a child with an autism spectrum disorder. Try involving them in the process of decorating the house or picking out a Christmas tree so that they won’t be shocked to discover a jarring difference in the way the home looks. Since autistic kids often become fixated on receiving particular gift items, it’s best to negotiate with them about the number of times it’s permissible to mention the gift.
Seeing distant relatives and acquaintances can be problematic for an autistic child as well. According to most articles on autism, you should prepare the child well before the visitors arrive. Bring out a photo album and reintroduce the family members to your child gradually and repeatedly. By the time they show up for the holidays, your child will be mentally and emotionally prepared for company.
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