This blog could explore ways to make Christmas more manageable for neurodivergent individuals. While Christmas is a delightful time for many, filled with gatherings of family, friends, and loved ones, it can also be an incredibly lonely period for some!
For autistic individuals, encountering unfamiliar faces on that one day each year can be very overwhelming, as it disrupts their normal routine, familiar foods, and daily tasks they are used to. Here are some suggestions that might help your autistic loved one this Christmas to feel included and valued.
A week before mention who is coming over.
Some games that they can join in with the family, but make sure there's no pressure.
Make sure they have a safe space to go to.
Set up some sensory toys and lights in a safe place. (Could be a bedroom)
If they don't want to come down, make sure each family member goes up to see them, and make sure they're ok. (And don't take it personally)
Let the individual with autism know the schedule maybe do a timetable on visible show where they can see it a week before Christmas, so they are not overwhelmed.
Get them involved, before and maybe do some Christmas cookies, and arts and crafts.
If there's loud music, or drunk people offer some noise-cancelling headphones and a games console or a safe toy.
Ask what games they would like to be included as well!
keep some Christmas films, or films they may like and maybe watch them together
or alone if the anxiety is too much!
Most of all Merry Christmas!
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