Music, glitter, festive foods, surprises, colour, presents, lights, concerts, people… There is so much to love about Christmas time but also so much to challenge our autistic pupils.
As timetables and routines are thrown to the wind, many of us relish the freedom and unpredictability of the festive season but, for autistic children, the loss of safe structure can feel confusing and worrying. There is concern about what lies beneath wrapping paper, the increase of visual and auditory stimuli can feel pretty overwhelming, the constant stream of people in both public and private spaces can just be all just too much – and this can lead to stress, meltdowns and shutdowns.
There is a lot that we can do to support our pupils through this very special time of year, helping them to enjoy the wonderful stuff whilst minimising the tricky bits.
1. Know your students
Preparation and planning are key elements of a successful autism-friendly Christmas. Keep up the visual timetables, giving the right amount of advance warning for your particular pupil. Some will need more preparation time, some will find waiting hard to handle. As always, be guided by your knowledge and understanding of the individual you are working with.
2. Surprises?
The majority of us love surprises, however surprises are generally quite hard for an autistic child to cope with. We would recommend involving them in decision-making and be creative when thinking about how to help them to enjoy the surprise elements of Christmas. An example being, you could wrap presents in cellophane, which preserves the excitement of unwrapping while reducing uncertainty. If the class is having a party, try asking your autistic pupil to help you to set it up while the room is quiet. It can be much easier to be part of creating the transition to a party room than to enter a room that is so different to normal.
3. Food
Food issues are magnified around Christmas, both for children who love food and for those who have very selective diets. In general, it’s a good idea to stick to familiar mealtimes, foods and routines as much as possible, whilst also offering opportunities to step out of comfort zones in a safe way. New foods can be introduced through play, which offers a low-anxiety strategy for helping pupils to become familiar with unusual smells, tastes and textures.
4. Plays and concerts
Practise, practise and practise again! Autistic pupils can and should have the opportunity to be part of Christmas celebrations, including plays and concerts, but you will need to think about how to fit their role to their abilities and preferences. They may need more opportunities to practise than other children, maybe starting with a trusted adult, then building up to a small group, then to a bigger group and finally to the full group with an audience. Don’t underestimate how much courage and energy this can take for them, but don’t deny them the chance. They may surprise you!
5. Play to their strengths
Play to their strengths. Autistic pupils are unique, complex and hugely rewarding to work with. When you discover what they like and are good at, they will often bring exceptional commitment, focus and talent to the activity or task.
6. Remember to relax!
Remember the importance of rest and relaxation! Christmas is pretty intense for even the most laidback person, and can just be too much for a child with autism. Encourage breaks during which your autistic pupils can do whatever they need to do to help themselves to stay calm and well-regulated. Provide quiet spaces or access to outdoors to give decompression time and let them know that you will be responsive to them when they communicate.
If you’re looking for a SEND teaching or support job in Liverpool, Knowsley, Southport, Wirral or across Merseyside please get in touch with Caring Services, or perhaps you need to recruit staff for your school or provision? If so, why not take a look at our website or get in touch today to find out how we can help!