Help Your Child have a relaxed, stress-free Holiday!

When our daughter Gabbi was a child, Christmas was one of the most stressful holidays for her and, ultimately, for us. Although she loves her large family, it was often too stressful for her to be around too many people for an extended period of time. We also had a lot of families to go and visit at Christmas. Although she usually loves visiting our relatives, after our morning of gift opening, it caused her a lot of stress and overstimulation.

Take a moment to think about your past Christmases or Holidays. Can you identify some potential stressors your child experienced on those days? If so, think about what you could change to reduce the stress and make it a more pleasant experience. Here are some potential suggestions:

1. Allow your child to stay in their room if they get overstimulated or anxious around many people. Communicating this to your guests can help them understand more about Neurodiversity.
2. Think about reducing the number of activities you schedule if this is a stressor for your child. Sometimes, less is more when it comes to activities.
3. Schedule some additional time with your child to do something they enjoy. Sometimes, we get so busy with our preparations that our child might feel neglected. Gabbi's phrase to us when she feels out of the loop is, "focus on me.” 

Wishing you and your family a Green Zone Christmas and Holiday Season! Vicky