| Yes autism and Christmas. Now this is a time | | | | last years Christmas can help with the |
| most children look forward to all year and parents | | | | adjustment. |
| do too. Autistic children often find this to be the | | | | Be prepared for the coming meltdowns. |
| hardest possible time of year. Routines and | | | | Remember this is more difficult on them then |
| stability go out the window, the house is alive with | | | | you, so it is important that you give them more |
| all sorts of people and things are not the way | | | | time, more patience, whatever it is they need to |
| they should be. | | | | come through the holidays. |
| As any parent or caregiver of an autistic child | | | | Let yourself say no. Yes it is the holidays and |
| knows, things go really bad when routines go out | | | | everyone wants to celebrate and have parties |
| the window. Simple changes can be the hardest | | | | and lots of family around, but remember it is |
| thing in the world for autistic children to cope with | | | | okay to say no to invites if for nothing more than |
| so all the changes that come with Christmas | | | | your child's sanity and emotional well being. |
| complicate their worlds even worse. | | | | And then comes Christmas day itself, be |
| Decorations go up, trees, lights, everything | | | | prepared for the meltdowns. Allow them the time |
| becomes so overwhelming. | | | | they need to themselves. Let them open |
| So how can you make this holiday season a little | | | | presents on their own timeline. If they can only |
| happier for your child? | | | | handle one an hour then so be it. Wouldn't you |
| Begin by remembering change is hard for them. | | | | rather give them the gift of love and care for |
| Do things a little at a time, don't pack all the | | | | their emotional well being than making sure all |
| holiday stuff into just a couple of days, that leave | | | | presents are opened right away in the rush of |
| them stressed and worn out (not to mention | | | | the morning? |
| yourselves from coping with meltdowns.) | | | | Don't forget their needs this holiday season. Being |
| Give them warning, take it a step at a time so as | | | | a parent to a special needs child can be difficult, |
| not to overwhelm them. Giving them some | | | | but being that special needs child is even more |
| advanced notice and showing them pictures of | | | | difficult. |