How To Make Thanksgiving an Enjoyable Experience for Your Child with Autism

For many, the holidays are a time of family togetherness and tradition. However, for some children with autism and their loved ones, any out-of-the-ordinary occasion has the potential to cause stress, anxiety, or overwhelm. With a little forethought and preparation, you can make gatherings like Thanksgiving a good experience for everyone.

Explain What to Expect Ahead of Time

Children with autism crave structure and familiarity. Any new setting or event can be a challenge. One of the best things you can do to help with this is talk over new experiences in advance, in detail and more than once. A few weeks before Thanksgiving, start talking it up—the family and friends who will be there, the food, the traditions, and so on. Answer any questions they have. You can even use social stories to help make your child feel informed and prepared.

Practice Behavior for the Meal

Though it looks different from family to family, Thanksgiving for most centers around a big meal. Prepare your child by explaining what will be expected at meal time, and practice in the weeks leading up to the big day. Thanksgiving will bring the everyday challenges of mealtime plus an array of new sights and sounds that make it even more difficult.

If your child has never had the traditional Thanksgiving foods, you could do small-scale practice Thanksgiving meal to introduce them. If your child will be expected to sit at a “kids’ table,” you could have them practice eating their regular dinner at a small table separate from the parents at the “big table.” Prepare and practice any specific family traditions you can.

Prepare the Rest of the Family

In addition to preparing your child, it is important to get the family ready, too. Some of your relatives may have little to no experience with children with autism. Be as transparent and communicative as possible. Make all family aware of the potential for disruptions, that your child may need extra time adjusting to new surroundings, or how to best communicate or respond to the child’s behaviors. Giving everyone this information is not apologizing for your child’s behaviors but, rather, bringing awareness and setting everyone up to have the best time possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my child with autism experiences sensory overload during Thanksgiving?

The sights, sounds, and smells of Thanksgiving could certainly become overwhelming. Plan ahead for this eventuality. Set aside a calm space for your child to retreat to when they feel overstimulated. If you are away from home, speak to your Thanksgiving host to make sure you can use a suitable spot in their home for this purpose.

What sort of things should I bring to Thanksgiving with my child with autism?

Pack a bag of comfort items, fidget toys, blanket, etc. If your child will use them, noise-canceling headphones may be a good option. If your child has a limited number of safe foods and will not eat typical Thanksgiving fare, feel free to bring some of the foods or snacks they like.

Positive Reinforcement offers in-home ABA therapy in Ashburn, VA, Purcellville, VA, and the surrounding Northern Virginia areas. Our ABA therapy services help children develop essential skills through individualized, family-centered programs designed for at-home learning environments.