Christmas can be an exciting time for any child. The thrill of writing that all-important letter to Santa, the visits to Santa’s Grotto, and the local Christmas Panto are some of the highlights that children can’t wait to experience year after year. However, if you have a child with an ASD or sensory processing disorder, or they find the whole experience overwhelming, it can make Christmas more stressful. That doesn’t mean you can’t find sensory-friendly activities for all the family this Christmas. In this post, we hope to offer you some accessible and available activities for this festive season.
Firstly, no one knows your child as you do. Make a list of everything that makes your child happy during Christmas: toys, games, books, music, food, and other items. Then, consider what they can’t tolerate, what they find overwhelming or struggle with. Alana had a great deal of anxiety around meeting Santa, was never a huge fan, and only managed it when she was a little older; now she’s too old (of course), but Thomas doesn’t understand Santa. He was excited when someone handed him a present when he was younger, but most of Christmas is too much for him now. So, we understand more than most that traditional family events or activities are often bypassed, but let’s get on with sharing our tips for sensory-friendly activities.
Create a Snowman.
A snowman is one of the easiest crafts to do with kids. You can use any material to build the snowman’s body, and in the UK, which barely has any snow until February (that’s not always a given), so going outside and creating a snowman isn’t something you can plan for. You can mold it into different shapes using clay, Play-Doh, or plasticine. Once you have made the shape, add eyes, nose, mouth, arms, legs, and a hat from various items around your home. The best thing about making a snowman is that there are endless possibilities, and if you have snow, what a bonus!
Make Gingerbread Houses.
Gingerbread houses are a classic Christmas craft. They are easy to make and can be decorated in various ways. To make a gingerbread house, make a base out of gingerbread dough. Then, cut out windows, doors, and other features. Decorate the house with icing and sweets. If, like me, you aren’t the crafty Mum, they sell gingerbread house kits in many shops and supermarkets.
Sometimes, it can feel overwhelming to find activities that are accessible and sensory-friendly for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or learning difficulties. Gingerbread houses are a fun activity that can help families create Christmas memories.
Decorate Cookies.
If you enjoy baking, why not make some delicious Christmas cookies to decorate? Once cooled, decorate with food colouring, sprinkles, sweets, and frosting. If you use food colouring, let the cookie sit overnight before eating, allowing the colour to set correctly.
The best thing about baking cookies is eating them immediately after they come out of the oven. However, try decorating cookies to add extra fun to your Christmas baking. For example, you could use food colouring to create festive designs. Or, you could sprinkle some sprinkles on top of the cookies.
Play Christmas Music
Who doesn’t love an epic Christmas playlist? It’s easy to find Christmas music online using apps like Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Apple (iTunes), or even radio stations that now have digital music channels that play Christmas music 24/7.
If your child loves listening to music, perhaps you could have a mini Christmas party at home or take a trip in the car with some excellent Christmas tunes. If your child prefers the comfort of headphones, perhaps connect them to an iPad or MP3 player, and they can have some time to chill out.
Christmas Light Walks
Christmas light walks, or Christmas light trails, have been springing up everywhere since 2020 when lockdowns and restrictions made outdoor activities impossible. They’re one of the best sensory-friendly activities you can do as a family.
We live in Hampshire, UK, and there are a few light walks, including Christmas at Cowdray and the Enlightened Winter Light Trail at Staunton Farm. While not exactly a light trail, Queen Elizabeth Country Park is hosting its own Christmas event. So, there are many options available if you want a more sensory-friendly Christmas.
We hope this has given you some ideas for sensory-friendly activities you can do with the whole family. This year, there are also winter woodland trails, ice skating, Christmas markets, and smaller school Christmas fairs to enjoy.
Let me know in the comments what some of your favourite Christmas activities are with your family. Are they sensory-friendly or otherwise?
Thank you for this great list. I have a niece who gets overexcited – will definitely be trying a few of these with her.
I think sometimes we forget that little ones can get overexcited and overwhelmed with all the Christmas parties etc. Thank you for reading Stephanie
These are awesome and fun things to do. I like to do cookies and decorate them. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Fransic, they are cute things to do even if just for a little while.
This post is incredible! Especially for new parents who have children that could be affected by Christmas. I know it’s hard to adapt to having a sensory-friendly holiday season, but these are great ideas! Baking cookies and playing Christmas music is a good way to not overwhelm your child and give them a great Christmas.
Thank you, Sejal. I think even adults can get overloaded sometimes, but we can deal with it better. I love how easy these little activities are, even for a chill out day.
These are such wonderful ideas! I especially love the Christmas cookies and also the Christmas lights walk ideas :). Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Andrea. I’ve left it too late to do a Christmas light walk this year but it’s definitely something I plan to do next year.
I can’t wait until it snows this year! We actually have a decent back yard that we can use to build a snowman! It can’t wait to give it a go after 5 long years.
I wish we had a decent amount of snow, here in the UK. Sadly, it is hit-and-miss each year. I’d love a good covering of snow this winter. Enjoy your snow days and snowman building.
Thank you for these suggestions. We are actually planning to have a cut of time for plans with family. Because my little one gets very overwhelmed.
It can be so hard to get the correct balance. I’m glad they might help ease your little ones anxiety.