Keeping the Happy in Happy Holidays When You Have Kids, Regardless of Disability

by Melinda Campbell-Weber, Guest Writer

Our Voices features guest bloggers in their own words sounding off on disability issues in Arizona. 

Melinda is the Senior Trainer and HIPAA Privacy Officer for United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona. She is a mother of two boys with special needs and has been an advocate for parents and children with disabilities for many years. Melinda can be reached at 602-628-1871 or [email protected] 

Crowded malls, bright decorations with flashing lights, blaring music, new social events and the anticipation of Santa arriving soon can be extremely overwhelming for some children. By taking your child’s unique needs into account, you can make this a safe and enjoyable holiday to remember. 

Here are a few ways that parents and caregivers can help keep the holidays happy for their kids, regardless if they have a disability or not:

Prepare them for the holidays and practice relaxation techniques. It’s easy for our schedules to become compromised during the holidays. School is out early, we tend to stay up later, visitors come over, and new foods and traditions are introduced. When stressful situations head your way, let your kids see you practice self-calming techniques. Encourage them to use these on a daily basis. Practice deep breathing together. Positive thinking and visualization are also powerful and easy tools they can learn from you.

Keep meals on track. It’s easy to snack all day on high carb, high sugar, low nutritional-value goodies during the holiday season. Be wary of adding excess sugar to your child’s diet. Be prepared when taking your child with you into other people’s homes. Bring along your own healthier, low sugar snacks as alternatives.

Make sure your children are getting enough ZZZZZ’s. We can’t perform at highly functioning levels if we’re tired – and this includes our children. Children have a tendency to get upset quicker if they’re not receiving enough sleep. Getting an adequate amount of sleep is essential in keeping their health on track and their moods more consistent.

Monitor your child for signs of anxiety and stress. You know your child better than anyone, which is why it is so important to keep a close eye on them during this chaotic season. The earlier you spot any signs of stress and anxiety, the quicker you can help keep your child safe. If you do identify signs of distress, take your child to a quieter place to help them calm down at their own pace, especially if they have sensory issues. Not all venues are ideal for all types of children. If your child has sensory issues, consider quieter events, like cooking, baking, or reading holiday stories.

Make your child feel prepared, empowered and important. Before it’s time to attend a holiday get together, show your child how to receive gifts and greet guests at the door. Teach them the names of the people you are visiting ahead of time. Give them a role at holiday gatherings. You can also help your child shine by asking him or her to assemble toys after a gift is opened, assist with handing out gifts to each guest, cooking something beforehand (with your assistance) or perhaps taking pictures of the fun activities at the event.

Be on guard for wandering. This can be an unsafe time of year for a child. Whenever routines are altered there’s a potential for kids to get separated. Help your child choose brightly colored clothing on outing days. That way, they can be easily identified in a crowd if they get lost. In addition, glow in the dark wristbands or an easily identifiable vest or hat can also be helpful, if they will tolerate wearing it. In my experience, yellow or green colors work best.

Slow down.  We can easily feel overwhelmed at the holidays. Slow down. Rushing can cause anger and anxiety that can bubble up in children and teens. Make sure you leave enough time to enjoy the journey so you can avoid potential meltdowns. It’s always a good idea to give children notice of transitions from one thing or place to another. Slowing down helps transitions become more tolerable.

Children of all abilities can often use a little extra help managing the festivities of the season. By using these tips, you can create a less stressful and happier holiday for everyone in your family, especially your child.