Creating a Sensory Box for Your Child with Autism: A Holiday Season Activity

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The holiday season is often a whirlwind of activities, from cooking festive feasts to wrapping presents and decorating the house. Amidst the hustle and bustle, finding activities that keep your child engaged and happy can be a challenge, especially for parents of children with autism. 

Crafting a sensory box is one way to provide a soothing and stimulating experience for your child.

sensory box

What is a Sensory Box?

A sensory box is a container filled with various materials to stimulate the senses – touch, sight, sound, smell, and sometimes taste. It serves as a safe space for children with autism to explore and engage their senses in a controlled environment.

How to Create a Sensory Box:

  1. Choose the Right Container: Select a container that suits your child’s preferences. It can be a plastic bin, a shoebox, or any container with a lid that can be easily opened and closed.
  2. Fill it with Sensory Materials: Here are some suggestions for sensory materials to include:
    • Textures: Consider items with different textures like smooth stones, soft fabrics, squishy toys, or scratchy items like carpet or Velcro.
    • Visual Stimulation: Add items that are visually appealing, such as glitter, kaleidoscopes, colorful scarves, or shiny objects.
    • Auditory Stimuli: Incorporate items that produce various sounds like bells, chimes, musical toys, or a small rainstick.
    • Scents: Introduce scented items like lavender sachets, citrus peels, scented markers, or essential oil-infused cotton balls (ensure safety and avoid strong scents).
    • Taste (if suitable): If your child enjoys exploring tastes, you can include safe snacks like flavored rice crackers, dried fruits, or chewy snacks (consider any dietary restrictions or allergies).

       3. Personalize It: Tailor the sensory box according to your child’s preferences. You know your child best, so include items that align with their interests and sensory needs.

Benefits of a Sensory Box:

  • Calming Effect: A sensory box can provide a calming effect, helping to reduce anxiety and stress.
  • Sensory Exploration: Encourages exploration and stimulates the senses in a controlled and safe environment.
  • Independent Play: It promotes independent play, giving parents valuable time to attend to holiday tasks.

You know your child best, so customize this to their interests, preferences, and abilities. Also, if your child engages in pica, mouthing, or other potentially dangerous activities, make sure you provide appropriate supervision.

Incorporating a sensory box into your child’s routine during the holiday season can be a rewarding experience. It offers a moment of respite for parents and an engaging and enjoyable activity for children with autism.

Remember, every child is unique, so observe and adjust the sensory box contents based on what brings comfort and joy to your child.

Happy holidays filled with sensory exploration!

Reference:

Refer to “The Out-of-Sync Child” by Carol Kranowitz for additional inspiration and ideas. This book offers valuable insights into sensory processing issues and practical suggestions for creating sensory-rich environments for children.

For more blog articles from ABA Connect on surviving the holidays check out: How to Cope with Holiday Stress, Make a Plan to Avoid Santa Trauma, and Holiday Planning that Makes Room for Autism.

Experiences Impact Happiness More Than Material Gifts

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As we approach the holiday season, I’ve been thinking about my upcoming visits with family and how to make the best of every moment together. My family is, sadly, spread out all across the country, so our visits are few and far between. Looking back at visits from previous years, I notice that I hardly remember the details. I remember very few specific gifts (except the year my parents got me a backyard playhouse and built furniture to put inside it!) or the holiday decorations. I do have vivid memories of cooking a holiday meal with my Grandmother and laughing until I cried during a family board game. I think it is that way for almost everyone.

Again, research backs up intuition – experiences impact our happiness and wellbeing more than tangible gifts. A few factors are at play here. Although we might think that having a shiny new Keurig will measurably improve our morning routine, we’re actually wired to adapt to our environments in their current state, and that pretty appliance will quickly become an invisible item that blends into the kitchen landscape. This phenomenon, called the hedonic treadmill, means that although getting a new gift during the holidays will lead to a short-term increase in joy, that joy quickly fades away and we focus on acquiring the next item on our list. Experiences (such as vacations, concerts, classes, great conversations, shared feasts, etc.) have a much more long-term impact on our memory banks because we spend an extended amount of time anticipating them. We also tend to reflect positively on the memories, even when things didn’t go perfectly.  We learn to construct funny stories for later from the disasters that happen when we gather!

Interestingly, experiences also have a more positive impact on our happiness compared to material purchases even before they have happened! In a cleverly titled article, “Waiting for Merlot,” researchers at Cornell University found that people reported significantly more positive feelings and excitement when thinking about going on a trip or out to a new restaurant than when thinking about getting a new laptop or pair of shoes. It seems that it’s easier for us to savor the positive anticipation of an event rather than an object, and that happy anticipation extends our joy. That might be one reason why it’s easier to remember times spent with family during the holidays – we look forward to them with pleasure in the months leading up to the gatherings. Another factor that gives experiences the edge is that they lead to more relatedness with one another. This has been particularly true for me – the times that stand out in my memory were times that I shared something exciting or meaningful with a family member and our bond grew stronger.

Taken together, if you really want to make the most of your holidays, focus on shared experiences (which, conveniently, often don’t cost a thing!). Of course, it is possible for the act of giving a meaningful gift to become an experience in and of itself. But, in general, time spent with one another will make you happier than breaking the bank to try to please people someone with “the perfect something.” Give your time and yourself, instead.

Survive the Holidays

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Written by: Ashley Flanders

The holiday season is a time to welcome a break from our day-to-day lives, to get together with families, enjoy gift exchanges, decorate with bright lights, break out those annoying Christmas songs, and partake in rich food…all ways of celebrating that we have come to eagerly await. However, for individuals with autism, especially children, this comes with new expectations and a disruption in routines. The holiday traditions we hold dear may be a source of stress, frustration, or sensory overload for individuals with autism. Provided below is a list of general tips that may help your child feel more comfortable and get through the holidays unscathed (which the holidays are also known for!)

Care to Prepare

Knowing what to look forward for the season and/or on a certain day can help avoid stressors for you and your child, and how much preparation you engage in will depend on your child’s needs. Keep in mind what events have been a source of anxiety for them in the past and what could have helped in that situation. You could find or create a social story to read with your child that discusses what is going to happen during the holidays and what behavior is expected from all parties. You can also review a calendar with them a few days or weeks ahead of time, so they have a physical countdown of when these events are going to happen. Make it exciting and really emphasize the fun parts!

Practice for Success

Whatever your traditions are, roleplaying or using social scripts ahead of time may help the holidays run smoother. Whether opening presents, meeting Santa, or performing religious rituals, practicing can avoid catching your child unprepared and help them have a good time!

Getting to Know You

If you plan on visiting family or friends that your child has not spent a lot of time with, you may want to start easing your child into meeting them ahead of time. You can create a picture book with notes about each person to give to your child. On the other side, speaking to visitors about your child’s potential triggers, what they enjoy, and how they communicate can help visitors get to know your child better. For all parties, it may be helpful to discuss consent before touching others, to let your child know it’s okay to say “no” if they feel uncomfortable with new people and avoid embarrassing visitors if your child does not want to engage with them at first.

Plan B

Have a back-up plan for when you go out on the town, visit loved one’s homes, or are traveling. Carry a bag full of their favorite toys/activities or soothing items. Make sure you bring food that your child will eat. Before heading out, locate a safe area you and your child can go to take a break. Let people that are with you aware that you may take these breaks, and ensure them that  it is so everyone can have a positive experience.

Baby Steps

Ease your child into the season by taking gradual steps for events that may be overwhelming to them. For instance, when you begin decorating (and also taking down decorations) put only a few up every day until you build up to a perfectly merry home!

Sensory Relief

If your child has a history of being hypersensitive to certain stimuli, prepare for this as well by avoiding areas/events that may be agitating to them—for instance, holiday light shows or caroling. You can also use your “baby steps” to get them used to these experiences for the season or bring along appropriate sensory adaptive aids such as noise-reducing earphones or sunglasses.

Communication

This is for you and your kiddo! Encourage your child to communicate their needs through the holiday. Don’t feel afraid to voice to others what kind of supports and your child may require to get through the holidays.

Be safe, have fun, and happy holidays from ABA Connect!

The History of Giving Birthday Presents to Kids

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Most parents in western countries celebrate their children’s birthdays by giving presents, however, birthdays weren’t always celebrated in this way. In this blog post, we take a look at the tradition of giving gifts to celebrate birthdays, how it started, and how it differs in other nations.

Who Started the Tradition of Giving Gifts?

The act of giving gifts goes as far back as the time of cavemen, perhaps even right to the origin of our species. Of course, gifts at this time weren’t the kind of goods we’d like to receive nowadays! Cave people typically gave items from nature, such as animal teeth, perhaps with a hole in to be worn as a necklace.

Over the years, the types of gifts given has changed. Coins and herds of livestock were given as gifts in later years. Nowadays, gifts can be just about anything. For adults, it’s common to receive a household gift such as a candle, flowers or a favorite food item. Teenagers can be difficult to buy for.  Gifts can range from anything from gadgets and tech to make up or clothes. Great present for boys and girls on their birthday can be anything that suits them. Most commonly given gifts for children are toys and games, although clothes, chocolate and candies and things for their room.

Other Historical Birthday Traditions

In ancient Greek times, gifts were given to those celebrating their birthday as a way to get rid of evil spirits. They also used noisemakers to help scare away the bad spirits.  Perhaps this is where the use of party poppers to celebrate birthdays came from. In Roman times, gifts were only given to men on their birthday. Women started celebrating their birthday sometime around the 12th century.

Adding candles to a birthday cake is something else we can thank the ancient Greeks for – they started this tradition as a way to honor their gods and goddesses, however, birthday cake as we know it today was developed by Germans towards the end of the 18th century. This was the same time when ‘Kinderfeste’ first started taking place – the 18th century equivalent of a child’s birthday party.

Which Countries don’t Celebrate Birthdays?

Not all cultures celebrate their birthdays the same way. Some people, because of religious beliefs do not celebrate birthdays. Some cultures do celebrate, but with different traditions. In Russia for example, you might be given a personalized pie instead of a cake. Some cultures don’t recognize official birthdays, with many people worldwide not knowing which date or even which year they were born in.

The Future of Birthday Celebrations

Birthday customs and traditions are always changing and adapting, with many popular American customs spreading to other countries. For example, many British parents now choose to do a ‘cake smash’ with their child for their first birthday, a trend which was virtually unheard of just a couple of years ago. One thing’s for sure – birthday celebrations are set to get bigger and better as time goes on.

Sticking to Your New Year’s Goals

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The New Year is upon us and along with it linger our New Year’s resolutions. Have you already considered discarding your goals this year due to lack of progress? Maybe you haven’t even set any yet because they haven’t worked in the past. It is not too late to set a few solid New Year’s resolutions for this year. Sticking to your goals simply requires some fine-tuning.

Most people set goals for the New Year that are health-related, either seeking to improve their physical well-being by improving their eating habits or increasing their exercise habits. Others may be in search of improving their emotional health. By addressing unresolved emotional concerns or improving their preventative mental health practices. If you want to be firm in your resolve, then have a look at your goals and determine whether or not they are possible.

Refining New Year’s resolutions is not a new topic. Dr. Meredith Brinster previously posted a blog about exercising self-compassion. Dr. Mike Brooks has also posted many related blogs including a couple with specific tips for weight loss hacks, and overcoming inertia using the 5-minute rule.

Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals

One acronym that helps you decide whether or not your goals are actionable goals is S.M.A.R.T. It stands for the following:

  • Specific – The more detailed you describe your goal, the better. Consider exactly what you want to achieve and then work out the details (e.g., what, when, how, and why).
  • Measurable – Identify exactly how you know when you have reached your goal. What you will see, hear, and feel.
  • Achievable – Is your goal reasonably calculated given your current obligations and life circumstances? Consider what you need in order to reach the goal. If the goal is impossible to attain, then you need to reevaluate and choose something else.
  • Relevant – How motivated are you to achieve the goal? Ask yourself if the goal is worthwhile and whether or not it is the right goal for you.
  • Time-Bound – it Is important to set a realistic timeframe for accomplishing your goal. Setting up smaller goals will help you determine if you are on-track for meeting your ultimate goal.

Accountability

Once you have devised your SMART goal, the last step is holding yourself accountable. Share your goal with someone else. If others know about your goal, then you will have someone else checking in to see whether or not you have made progress. Your accountability partners will be able to offer you encouragement and you will be more motivated to not disappoint them.

The Takeaway

Now you know how to develop goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-Bound. Take some time to write down your new goals and develop your plan for checking on your progress. If you follow these steps, then you will have more success this year sticking to your goals and will experience a sense of accomplishment.

Enjoying the Holidays with a Child on the Spectrum: Visiting Santa

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By: Caroline Roesel, MEd, BCBA

Parents want their children to experience the “magic” of the holiday seasons and partake in as many activities as they choose. This can be challenging with a child on the spectrum who may want to partake in holiday activities, but have behaviors that may preclude them from doing so.

Parents who want their child to visit Santa Claus may worry about their child feeling anxious in large crowds, having a hard time waiting in line, and sitting still in Santa’s lap (without crying!). This is overwhelming enough to make caregivers give up before even trying. By using a few principles of behavior and planning ahead, your child could master the skills needed to have a great experience visiting Santa.

Managing Crowds

If your child is overwhelmed by large groups of people, contact Santa’s place of work and ask when there are typically less people. Smaller crowds are more common when Santa events first open; if you can arrive a bit before the event opens, you will likely encounter shorter lines.

Most children have toys or treats that help them cope when they are overwhelmed. Bring these items with you to the event. Watch your child; they will likely demonstrate “warning signals” that let you know when they’re growing uncomfortable. When you see these warning signals, give them their toys or treats. Do no wait until they are having a tantrum to try and calm them, this may inadvertently teach them “When I have a tantrum, I get cool stuff.” Not the message you want to send!

Contact Santa’s Helpers

Many Santa events often have a contact number. You can call to let the event workers know that you’re coming and you have a child with special needs. Tell them if your child would be more comfortable with certain changes, such as a speedier Santa visit, standing next to Santa instead of sitting on his lap, or giving Santa a list of desired presents instead of telling him verbally. People are happy to accommodate when they can, so don’t hesitate to ask for help.

Practice at Home

If you want your child to take a picture with Santa, but are worried they will not tolerate sitting with him, practice taking pictures with different family members and family friends before you go to the event. Have your child go through the motions of sitting on someone’s lap and smiling at a camera. Try and practice this as much as you can 3 to 4 days prior to seeing Santa. The more comfortable your child is in front of the camera, the more likely they will be to say “Cheese!” on the big day!

Children with ASD can be a part of holiday fun and festivities. With a little planning and practice, caregivers can help their children with special needs to partake in the fun!

Make A Plan to Avoid Santa Trauma

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The holidays can be a difficult time for children with autism spectrum disorder. Difficulties can arise from changes in schedules, blinking lights, shiny objects, crowds, or the man with a hairy face that only comes once a year in a big red suit and loudly proclaims, “Ho Ho Ho.” Santa Claus can be intimidating for any child. As a parent of a child with autism, make a plan to avoid Santa trauma.

Santa Trauma

Santa trauma is not a “clinical” term. That is, Santa trauma is not a diagnosis. But, many of us have seen children cry, reach out for their parents in terror, or look petrified as they sit in Santa’s lap to take a picture. We have also seen stressed adults escorting children to sit in Santa’s lap despite the child’s apparent fear.

I define Santa trauma as significant emotional or behavioral reactions that happen when children (or adults) encounter Santa Claus. Santa trauma can happen while waiting in a line to sit in Santa’s lap, walking by Santa at the mall, seeing Santa on TV, or actually being forced to sit in Santa’s lap to take a picture. You or your child can experience Santa trauma. You may no longer have your child sit in Santa’s lap because the last time you tried it, your child had a meltdown and you are traumatized as a result. On the other hand, you may have wanted your child to have a big smile in a picture with Santa and he showed no reaction. Consider how to make a plan to avoid Santa trauma.

Santa Trauma From The Sensory or Social Experience

A child with autism spectrum disorder may have an intense response to Santa or he may look away because he has no social interest in Santa. Santa Claus provides a unique sensory and social experience because he only comes around once a year. Santa trauma can be triggered by Santa’s novelty or sensory overload from Santa’s big red textured suit, white furry beard, his big black boots and belt buckle, or his hearty “Ho Ho Ho.”

Make A Plan To Avoid Santa Trauma

You may need to make a carefully thought out plan to avoid Santa trauma. You know your child best. Think about how you can avoid or address a potential meltdown from a Santa encounter. Here are some tips if you do plan to introduce your child to Santa in person.

  • First, introduce your child to Santa in pictures, books, cartoons, stuffed animals, videos, or from a distance.
  • Talk about Santa in a way that is consistent with your family’s values.
  • Consider a sensory-friendly version of Santa through events for children with special needs.
  • Praise your child for any Santa approach such as looking at, going near, saying or approximating the word “Santa.”
  • Have a family member dress up as Santa for a controlled introduction in a familiar environment.
  • If you go to an event to take a picture, check your child’s reaction to Santa from a distance and the wait time before standing in line.
  • Make sure your child is well-rested and fed before the initial encounter with Santa in public. Have their favorite items readily available.
  • Do not force your child to sit in Santa’s lap if he is afraid or is on the verge of a meltdown.
  • Consider modeling a high-five or a fist bump if sitting in Santa’s lap is too frightening.
  • Be ready to leave the event if your child is upset by Santa, then do something you know calms your child.
  • Don’t feel pressured to visit or introduce Santa if you feel your child is not ready.

Make a plan to avoid Santa trauma. It does not have to happen to you or your child during this holiday season.

New Year, New You?

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girl-948246_960_720The New Year often brings resolutions of positive, sometimes dramatic changes to our lifestyles. Goals of weight loss, exercise, healthy eating, organization, or career accomplishment are commonly kick-started by the changing of the calendar. No matter what the goal, the one thing that they tend to have in common is that they are forgotten or abandoned not long after they are started. Research suggests that around 85% of people who make New Year’s resolutions fail. But what determines failure? If the lofty goal of suddenly attending the gym five days a week gets derailed due to increased commitments at work or home for a few days, have we failed? If we binged on popcorn during a Netfilx marathon after two weeks of healthy eating, have we failed? Is perfect the enemy of the good?

Many wise thinkers (e.g., Voltaire, Aristotle, Confucius) have cautioned against extremism. In other words, if a “cheat day” derails us from our overall goal of eating healthier in the New Year, we are setting unrealistically high expectations of perfection that will only lead to feelings of failure and a loss of motivation. New behaviors take time and repetition to become habit. Just think about how many times we will each write 2015 in error instead of 2016! So how do we combat these thoughts of failure and maintain motivation for healthy life improvements? Ironically, research suggests we love who we are right now in this very moment!

As taken from the work of Dr. Kristen Neff at the University of Texas at Austin, self-compassion is extending compassion to one’s self in instances of perceived inadequacy or failure. Self-compassion has been shown to promote greater life satisfaction, optimism, curiosity, social connectedness, and emotional resilience and personal responsibility. According to Dr. Neff, self-compassion includes the following main components:

  • Self-kindness: being warm towards oneself when encountering personal shortcomings, rather than being harsh with self-criticism
  • Common humanity: recognizing that personal failure is part of the shared human experience
  • Mindfulness: taking a balanced approach to one’s negative emotions so that feelings are not exaggerated

Being compassionate toward setbacks and failure is actually what will support continued efforts toward our goals and long term change over time. One quick way to practice self-compassion is to ask ourselves what we would tell a friend who was experiencing a similar set back. Likely, we would kindly reassure our friend that set backs are normal and provide encouragement to get back on track! So instead of being discouraged by our lack of perfection in the New Year, let the New You be one of compassion and kindness toward our progress and ourselves.