3 Tips to Help Your Child with ADHD, Anxiety, or ASD Successfully Navigate the Holidays

Mar 11

As we enter into the holiday season, family gatherings and events can be a struggle for many kids with ADHD, anxiety, and ASD because of:

Interrupted routines
Overstimulation
Anxiety around social situations and social struggles

Some simple tips to help alleviate some of the stress and struggles for the next holiday gathering are:

Tip #1 - Talk about how the day will go and set some expectations

Setting expectations can help alleviate the stress of the unknown and help provide some structure. An example conversation you could have with your child is:

“Tomorrow morning, we are going to grandma’s and we plan to leave at 9 am. Your aunts, uncles, and cousins will be there. We'll hang out, play games, and then eat around noon. After lunch, we'll relax and watch a holiday movie. Then we will head home in time for dinner. Things might not go exactly as planned, but we can be flexible and handle those changes together.”

Tip #2 - Take a break from overstimulation

There can be so much stimulation at events. Designate a spot that they can take a break if they need a moment to collect themselves and reset. Maybe create a signal you two can make to quietly let each other know it’s break time.

“If you need to take a break at grandma’s, there is a spot in the guest room that is quiet. You can go there and reset for a few minutes. If you want to tell me without saying anything in front of others, you can just tap your wrist and I will know that is your signal you need to take a break.”

If they have some calming items, they can bring those along like fidgets, noise reducing headphones or earbuds, a small plushie, book, or other items.

Tip #3 - Support positive and successful social interaction

Some kids can really struggle to socially interact with others when they have ADHD, anxiety, or ASD. You may need to prompt your child with implicit instructions to kick things off. If they seem to be struggle, quietly pull them aside and give them an example of what they could say:

“Why don’t you ask your <friend, cousin, acquaintance> if they want to play a game with you. You could say, “Hey Sam, do you want to play Roblox (or basketball, foosball, etc) with me right now.”

Personally, I have seen my child get stuck initiating a conversation, but once they do, they can keep the communication going for a while. They may need to figure out a common interest first if they are newly acquainted.

I hope these three tips help you and your child successfully navigate holiday gatherings with friends and family.