Preparing for the Holidays

By Keri Anthony, LICSW
December 17, 2009

The Holidays can be a stressful and confusing time for many children – they are seeing family members they may not be very familiar with, going to unfamiliar places, smelling and tasting new foods and being exposed to noisier environments. There are a lot of unexpected things that can occur around the holidays that can disrupt your child’s schedule and create anxiety for the child. In order to plan for a smooth holiday season and school break, here are a few suggestions from the Clinical Staff at League School:

• Preview events in advance with your child using schedules, checklists or first/then boards
• Use social stories
• Review family photos of unfamiliar relatives and look at photos of past holiday celebrations
• Use a visual timer to help your child understand how long they may have to wait or sit
• Map out routes if you have to travel far and provide the child with landmarks and rest-stops
• Identify places in a new setting where the child can go to take a break or decompress
• Bring foods that are familiar to the child or preview a menu if you will be going out to eat.
• Bring sensory tools and other regulating activities
• Bring motivating items such as videos, game systems, a favorite food or toy to reinforce desired behaviors
• Speak with family members ahead of time about your child’s needs (sensitivity to loud noises, sensitivity to touch, etc) so that they will be prepared
• Practice any holiday routine/rituals such as opening presents, passing items around the table, lighting candles, etc. with your child before an event

Whenever possible, provide your child with choices and include your child in the planning process to help them feel a sense of control. Hope these suggestions help! Has anyone had any success using similar strategies?

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Toys and Games for the Holidays

By the Occupational Therapy & Speech-Language Departments
December 7, 2009

The Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Departments at the League School of Greater Boston hope that you find this list of suggested toys and games useful this holiday season. We have chosen to group the items into two main categories: promoting independent play and promoting cooperative (i.e., group or social) play. Within each category, you will find items that address a variety of motor, sensory, and language areas and a broad range of abilities. Please use your knowledge of your child’s strengths and challenges when investigating these suggestions before purchasing.

Promoting Independent Play
Sensory Exploration
Crayola Model Magic Fusion
Fascinating Pin Art (Toysmith)
Insta-snow®
Koosh balls
Moon Sand
Non-Stop Top (Can You Imagine)
Uncle Milton’s Moon in My Room
Twilight Ladybug

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