‘Tis the Season… For Supporting Regulation All Holiday Long
‘Tis the season… for late nights, extra sugar, and nonstop activities and events.
The holidays can be filled with joyful and fun moments, but they can also feel chaotic and stressful for both you and your child. As excitement builds, daylight gets shorter, and routines unravel, here are a few tools to try to help support regulation around the holidays.
Talk to Your Child About Your Holiday Plans
Talking through your holiday plans with your child can be so helpful! This allows them to know what they can expect, who they can anticipate to be there, and what they can mentally prepare to do while there. Knowing what to expect can help fight the holiday scaries and allow your child time to process the holiday festivities! Another fun way to discuss holiday plans is through reading books or watching kid-friendly video clips of any activity you may participate in – from baking cookies, unwrapping gifts, waiting in line, and everything in between.
Come Prepared
Before heading out the door, create a bag full of your child’s favorite sensory tools such as fidgets, noise-cancelling headphones, a hat, or sunglasses to support regulation! Having a ready-to-go bag full of your child’s tools can help ease the stress while trying to get out the door and helps equip your child for the sensory input they will navigate.Another way to come prepared is to bring your child’s safe foods or snacks to a holiday party where a meal is being served.
Stick to a Routine
Sticking to a routine can be hard during the holidays. However, maintaining a similar morning or bedtime routine can be helpful for regulation. Keeping to your child’s routine as much as possible will help create a space where they feel safe and secure.
Allow for Downtime
If you know you are going to have a busy day full of holiday festivities, try to schedule breaks or quiet time throughout the day. Scheduling downtime and allowing for breaks can help your child regulate during new and unpredictable routines and activities. If you are going somewhere for the holidays, check with the host ahead of time to see if there is an area where you can create a quiet space for your child. Equip the space with their favorite blanket, pillow, headphones, or fidgets.
Move Your Body!
A great way to support regulation throughout the day is having movement breaks! A few fun ways to move your body that also provide regulatory input include: pushing/pulling a laundry basket full of decorations or stuffed animals (heavy work!!); creating an obstacle course with jumping, climbing, pushing, and pulling (fun tip: use pillows or blankets and play floor is lava!); giving your kiddo a big squeeze through pillows and blankets (make it into the game and have them be the “sandwich”); pretend to smell the “baked goods” and then cool them off (encourages deep breathing!!).
As the holiday season ramps up, remember that every child – and every family – has their own rhythm, needs, and ways of enjoying this time of year. As a parent or family member, give yourself grace when plans go unexpectedly different. Supporting regulation is not about creating the perfect plan but creating moments of connection and comfortability for your child amid all the new sights, sounds, routines, and experiences. Here’s to equipping your child, celebrating ways that support your child’s (and family’s) nervous system, and finding the magic that comes from meeting your child exactly where they are this holiday season!
To creating connection one holiday event at a time,
Anna
The Way to Grow Pediatric Therapy Team 🌟
about our featured writer:
Meet Anna - our newest occupational therapist to join team Way to Grow! Anna has always had a passion for caring for others, and once she discovered pediatric occupational therapy, she knew it was meant to be! Initially, Anna practiced as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), but has recently gone on to receive her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Belmont University + is officially a registered and licensed occupational therapist. Anna has a passion for serving the community she lives in and absolutely loves working with children and their families. She finds so much joy in helping children develop new skills, grow their confidence, and see them thrive in life - and Anna’s peace and joy in her work is contagious! In her free time, Anna loves spending time with family, exploring new coffee shops, enjoying the great outdoors, and reading.
