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The Christmas season can be filled with so much excitement, anticipation and sensory overload too! For children with sensory processing disorder, the holidays can be both exciting and overwhelming. That's where a sensory Christmas countdown could be a great ideas! It is a great way to build excitement and provide calming sensory experiences throughout the month leading up to Christmas Day!
I called this the 12 days of Christmas but some families prefer to do 25 Days of sensory Christmas gift ideas instead. it is completely up to you what toy think is best for your family. There are many different ways to do a countdown to Christmas. Christmas doesn't have rules and it is okay to change traditions to accommodate your family.
Instead of traditional advent calendars filled with chocolates, you could create a sensory focused countdown for your child. There are many ways that you can adapt the idea for different ages and sensory needs too. Some families open one smaller gift a day until Christmas Day and then one big one on the special day because too much excitement for one morning, can be too much for a child with sensory differences.
Each day, a new sensory gift or Christmas activity is revealed, offering a calming or stimulating sensory experience. Think of it as a way to build anticipation for Christmas while catering to your child's sensory preferences. You can do this for 12 days of 25 days. You can also let family and friends who give gifts to your child that they can gradually drop their gift off and explain why.
There are a lot of ideas for gifts for your child's sensory countdown. They don't have to be sensory items and could just be gradually having Christmas gifts over time and not overwhelming and at once. Waiting for Christmas Day can be difficult for our kids as they don't like surprises and get anxious.
How it works if on the first day of sensory Christmas you could give your child a weighted lap pad or a new fidget. Then on the second day of sensory Christmas you could give your child a pack of scented play dough for creating and exploring textures. Moving on to the third day of Christmas, you could give your child a sensory calming bottle.
Sensory countdown doesn't have to be expensive, you can find a lot of sensory items at the dollar store or they can be homemade.
- Sensory fidget tools - Weighted blankets or weighted lap pads - Play-Doh, slime or clay - Bubbles - Glow sticks or light-up toys - Books with engaging textures and sounds - Sensory bins - Essential oil diffuser with a calming child-safe blend - Colorful crayons or markers with coloring book
To ensure your child's sensory Christmas countdown is a success, it's helpful to create checklists for each child. Make a checklist of your child's sensory preferences, identify their favorite textures, sounds, smells and tastes. Another checklist for your child's sensory sensitivities and note any sensory triggers that might be overwhelming for your child such as loud noises, bright lights or certain textures.
Create a checklist of the calming strategies that work best for your child and include a list of strategies that help your child regulate their sensory input such as deep breathing, listening to music or swinging. Write a list of gift ideas for your child based on your child's preferences and sensitivities. Create a list of potential sensory gifts.
There are a lot of benefits to having a sensory Christmas countdown. They can reduce a child's anxiety. The anticipation and predictable sensory experiences can help alleviate anxiety associated with the holidays. Sensory activities, daily gradual Christmas can promote self-regulation and help children manage their sensory input.
Having a countdown can enhance a child's engagement because a child is more likely to engage with the festivities when their sensory needs are met. Creating a sensory focused Christmas experience can help build positive associations with the holidays.
This Christmas, embrace the opportunity to make the holiday season more enjoyable and accessible for all children. By including sensory friendly options into your Christmas celebrations, you can create a truly magical and meaningful experience that caters to everyone's unique needs.
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DISCLAIMER: I have learned a lot over the years but I am still learning. Always do your own research and exercise sound judgment. I am not an occupational therapist or a physician. I am an adult who has sensory processing disorder, a sensory parent and a Grandma. The information on this website is not medical advice and does not replace the information that your child's therapists or medical professionals give you. These are just ideas that I have learned myself over the years of being a parent and an adult living with SPD. If you are concerned for your child, please always seek medical attention through a family doctor, pediatrician or therapist. This website is for awareness and support purposes only. Each child is different and what works for one child may not for another because all children have different sensory needs. Please always consult with a professional.
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