While many of us look forward to the twinkle of holiday lights, the serenade of familiar Christmas songs, and the scent of warm pumpkin pie or fresh pine branches, these same things can present unique and real challenges to children with sensory issues.  Recognizing and respecting these sensitivities is an important first step. With a little foresight and planning, families can create a sensory-friendly holiday season that allows everyone to enjoy the festivities.

1. Plan Ahead
You can minimize surprises and create a more predictable environment by sharing your holiday schedule with your child and discussing any potential changes or events. This can help reduce anxiety and provide a sense of structure.

It’s also a good idea to educate relatives and guests about your child’s sensory sensitivities. Share information about what may trigger discomfort and provide guidance on how to interact with your child. A little understanding can go a long way in creating a supportive and inclusive holiday environment.

2. Manage Lighting, Decorations and Noise Levels
Bright lights and flashy decorations are integral to holiday celebrations, but they can be intense for children with sensory sensitivities. Consider using soft, ambient lighting and opting for simpler, less overwhelming decorations. Dimmer switches or adjustable lights can also provide more control over the environment.

Holiday gatherings can also be noisy affairs, with music, laughter, and conversations filling the air. Consider encouraging breaks in a quiet space, or providing noise-canceling headphones, earplugs or headphones with preferred music to help manage auditory stimulation.

3. Incorporate Sensory-Friendly Activities
Choose holiday activities that cater to your child’s sensory needs. Whether it’s a quiet craft, baking cookies, or listening to calming music, find activities that bring joy without overwhelming sensory input. Involve your child in the planning process to ensure their preferences are considered.

4. Be Mindful of Foods/Smells
Holiday feasts often involve a variety of foods, some of which may be challenging for children with sensory issues. If necessary, bring familiar snacks or dishes to holiday gatherings to ensure your child has options they are comfortable with. If strange smells are difficult, bring along something familiar, like a scented lotion or lip balm, to override them.

5. Create a Quiet Space:
Designate a quiet, calm space where your child can retreat if the holiday festivities become overwhelming. Equip this space with comforting items like soft blankets, noise-canceling headphones, or fidget toys. Encourage your child to use this space whenever they feel the need to regroup.

Creating a sensory-friendly holiday season requires thoughtful planning and consideration. But by understanding sensitivities and implementing these strategies, you can foster an environment where everyone in the family can enjoy the magic of the holidays!

There’s no doubt the upcoming weeks of the holiday season can be filled with glad tidings and joy. But if you have a child with Sensory Processing Disorder, the days off from school, numerous outings, and a lack of structure can also lead to a season of chaos, outbursts and frustration.

Our staff has put together the following action points to help your child regulate and your family engage in his or her development as the New Year approaches.

• Preparation is key! Remember to use antecedent strategies prior to transitions or non-preferred activities (holiday parties, meeting Santa, etc.). These may include:
  • Telling your child what to expect. Ex: “We will go to Aunt Kelly’s house for one hour and see your three cousins.”
  • Teaching/reminding your child how to request a break.  
  • Providing fidgets or having preferred items available. 
  • Delivering behavior-specific praise for appropriate behavior in these settings. Ex: “You did a great job staying in your seat during the song.”
  • Provide choices whenever possible. Ex: “Do you want to walk or ride in the cart? Do you want to sit on Santa’s lap or stand next to him?”
  • Give clear and concise instructions. Ex: “Time to ride in the cart” instead of “I want you to ride in the cart because it’s really busy and I don’t want you to get lost.” 
  • Remove question verbiage Ex: “Time to get in the cart” instead of “Are you ready to get in the cart?”
  • Use first/then verbiage with non-preferred/preferred activities. Ex: “First we will put on our jackets and then we will go outside.”
• Engage in social routines to facilitate language development.  Ex:  “Where is the Elf on the shelf?”
• Model core vocabulary and fringe words on your child’s system throughout holiday activities such as decorating the Christmas tree.
• Play describing games with holiday characters.  Ex: “Guess who has a red nose and flies?”
• Communicate holiday gifts or “wants” by all forms of communication. Ex: “I want ___” or “I like___.”
• Engage in conversations about holiday activities or read holiday stories.
• Sing holiday songs; repeated lines may be able to be programmed on AAC devices so that everyone can join in and sing along.
• Plan daily schedules or routines, and adapt them visually as needed. Try using the “Notes” app on your phone to make a list that can be checked off as things as completed. Use Google Images to find pictures of experiences or places for younger children to follow. Or carry a pad of paper and make stick figures if you need to!
• Plan holiday outfits in advance or consider letting your child help pick out her outfit. The cutest holiday sweater will be a bust if she over responds to how it feels!
• Honor all forms of communication, including words, communicative gestures, manual signs, and AAC devices.
• Bring preferred food options to assure a favorite accepted food remains available across situations. Does it really matter if your child eats turkey or chicken nuggets?

Finally, keep an eye out for sensory friendly holiday experiences. Here’s a great resource from our friends at University of Illinois College of Medicine!

At Easterseals Central Illinois, we strive to empower our pediatric therapists with every piece of equipment needed to help children reach their goals. In physical therapy, a number of our clients are working on mobility. Mobility looks different for every child. For some, the LiteGait system plays a vital role in their progress.

According to the LiteGait website: LiteGait provides postural control and weight-bearing assistance for fall-free therapeutic activities. It permits the clinician to be hands-free when working with clients of all functional levels and diagnoses, to focus on better quality and increased quantity of practice.

Thanks to the generous support of the Community Foundation of Central Illinois, we have been able to acquire an enhanced medical-grade treadmill, a crucial part of the LiteGait system.

The enhanced treadmill is not merely a piece of exercise equipment; it’s a lifeline for children with developmental delays. This advanced treadmill, expertly designed to integrate with Easterseals’ LiteGait system, offers precision in gait training. It starts as slow as 0.1 mph, a level of control unmatched by commercial treadmills. This level of precision empowers clinicians to assist even infants as young as 10 months old, allowing them to address delays sooner and more effectively. The enhanced treadmill offers a unique feature, GaitSens, enabling therapists to analyze and target specific gait aspects, resulting in more customized and impactful care for each child

The Community Foundation of Central Illinois has an essential element of support—capacity building. Their generous funding to acquire a new enhanced treadmill aligns perfectly with Easterseals Central Illinois’ mission to provide exceptional services. With the capacity to provide better care, Easterseals can ensure that children with developmental delays, disabilities, and special needs have the opportunity to reach their full potential. This grant not only supports their mission but also ensures the maximum utilization of the LiteGait system.

At Easterseals Central Illinois, every child’s story is a testament to the incredible potential that exists within them. Like our friend Isaac, who recently celebrated his 9th birthday. He has been receiving services from Easterseals Central Illinois since he was 4 months old; he has experienced so much progress with us.

Isaac’s life is woven with the threads of music, as it plays a significant role in his daily routine. He’s an avid listener and enjoys watching videos of his favorite musicians. The power of music to uplift and inspire is evident in Isaac’s life, and it’s heartening to see how it brings a smile to his face.

Apart from music, Isaac finds joy in some other activities too. He loves swinging, relaxing in the hot tub at his home, and taking a dip in the Easterseals pool. One of his most endearing habits is giving hugs to his family members and putting his arm around them when he’s sitting close. These simple gestures are a beautiful reminder of the power of love and connection.

This past Spring and Summer, something remarkable happened in Isaac’s life. His family made the decision to switch to pool therapy as part of his occupational therapy (OT). This change had a profound impact on Isaac’s overall well-being. His therapist, Erin, was pleasantly surprised by the newfound enthusiasm he brought to his therapy sessions. The water seemed to work like magic, making Isaac happier, causing more laughter, and igniting his eagerness to engage in pool therapy.

In the pool, Isaac has been working on various skills. From reaching and grasping pool toys to pushing and pulling objects, he’s been on a journey of discovery and achievement. One unforgettable moment that left an indelible mark was watching Isaac toss and push a big beach ball across the water.

It was a triumph, a testament to his determination and the dedicated efforts of his therapist and family. Easterseals Central Illinois holds a special place in Isaac’s heart and his family’s as well. With the introduction of pool therapy, they’ve witnessed their beloved Isaac achieve things they once thought were impossible. The pool therapy has been nothing short of a blessing for them. The best part is that Isaac doesn’t even consider it “work” because he loves swimming so much. It’s not just therapy; it’s fun and a profound source of joy.

Football season in Central Illinois isn’t just about touchdowns and cheers; it’s also a time when communities come together to support a great cause. This year, the Easterseals Blackout Program is on its way to raising over $30,000 during the football season, and it’s nothing short of heartwarming. The participating high schools include Pekin, Eureka, Farmington, Deer Creek-Mackinaw, Elmwood/Brimfield, and Richwoods.

In 2008, the Easterseals Telethon VIP Team, comprised of six football players and six adults from the Elmwood-Brimfield community, decided to take a step beyond traditional fundraising. Inspired by their passion for Easterseals and the amazing work the organization does for individuals with disabilities, they introduced the idea of the “Blackout” event. This concept was spearheaded by none other than Elmwood/Brimfield football coach Todd Hollis, a man with a personal connection to Easterseals, as his daughters, Meg and Alina, who received Easterseals services and have Down Syndrome.

Coach Hollis’s dedication to the mission of Easterseals is truly inspiring. It’s a testament to the impact that Easterseals has on the lives of young people with disabilities and their families. Under his guidance, what began with just two teams participating in the Blackout in 2008 expanded rapidly to 24 local high schools in Central Illinois by 2009, and the program has continued to grow ever since.

The Easterseals Blackout isn’t just about raising money; it’s about showing unity, support, and community love for those who need it most. The growth of this program from a small group’s idea to a Central Illinois-wide movement is heartwarming. By participating in the Blackout, these schools are not only raising funds but also raising awareness of how young people can be more inclusive of individuals with disabilities. Big thanks to Coach Todd Hollis and everyone involved in this fantastic initiative for their unwavering commitment to Easterseals and the children it serves.

Interested in hosting your own Blackout for Eastereals?

You can have a Blackout event anytime that works for your school. While it started with football games, schools have expanded it to other sports like basketball, volleyball, and wrestling. Picking a big rivalry game makes the event even more exciting and profitable. Contact Molly Hogeboom today at Mhogeboom@eastersealsci.com or call (309)686-1177