Navigating the Holiday Hustle and Stress: Supporting Children with ASD and Sensory Needs Through Music and More

The holiday season can be a whirlwind of activities, lights, and sounds, which can be overwhelming for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other sensory needs. However, with the right strategies and resources, parents can help their children navigate these busy times with confidence and joy. Here are some tips, including music-based resources, to prepare for the holiday festivities:

1. Create a Visual Schedule

Visual schedules can be a powerful tool for children with ASD. They provide a clear and predictable structure, helping children understand what to expect. Use pictures or symbols to represent different events and activities, and review the schedule together each day.

2. Incorporate Music

Music therapy is a wonderful way to help children with ASD manage stress and sensory overload. At Mewsic Moves, we offer tailored music therapy sessions that can be particularly beneficial during the holiday season. Consider incorporating music into your daily routine, such as playing calming tunes during transitions or engaging in musical activities to express emotions and/or provide tools to help your child to distract.

At Mewsic Moves, we curate themed playlists on our Spotify channel titled "Harmony for All: With Empowering Tunes." These playlists are designed to ease the stress of searching for the perfect song or playlist, catering to the specific emotional needs of all ages.

We encourage you to explore the various tracks and find which ones resonate best with you or your little ones. It’s important to personalize the experience, as music can evoke different feelings and memories for everyone. Take the time to listen together, discussing which melodies spark joy or help in moments of overwhelm. We highly recommend our playlist “Calm and Focus” to start.

3. Designate a Quiet Space

Amidst the holiday chaos, having a designated quiet space can provide a much-needed retreat for children with ASD and sensory needs. Equip this area with noise-canceling headphones, favorite toys, or calming music to help your child decompress when needed.

4. Practice Social Stories

Social stories are brief narratives that assist children in understanding social situations, expectations and what to do in the event of distress or uncertainty. Create stories about upcoming holiday events, like family gatherings or visits to Santa, to prepare your child for what they may experience. At Mewsic Moves, we use visuals from clip art or real photos to make these stories more realistic, helping children visualize and familiarize themselves with the events, people, or places.

5. Engage in Musical Activities at Home

Music can be a comforting and engaging activity for children with ASD and sensory needs. Incorporate simple musical games like rhythm imitation or singing familiar songs to help your child connect, communicate and feel safe during the holiday events. Establish a musical routine to prepare your child for various events and consider returning to a music activity at home to help them settle and distract from any challenging experiences. Singing, movement, drumming, and rhythm can reduce anxiety and stress. At Mewsic Moves, we offer music-based social skills groups for all ages to support neurodiverse individuals in finding effective strategies and practicing social expectations through music.

Check out some of our supports here.

6. Plan Sensory-Friendly Outings

Look for sensory-friendly events in your community, such as quiet hours at local museums or holiday events designed for neurodiverse children. These outings can provide enjoyable experiences without overwhelming sensory input and make for a more memorable and enjoyable family holiday event. Check out this link to find sensory-friendly events throughout LA for the upcoming holiday events.

7. Communicate with Family and Friends

Inform family and friends about your child's needs and preferences, sharing effective strategies for support during gatherings. While educating the public can be challenging, especially when parents face negative reactions to their child's distress, it's important to prioritize your child's needs. Some people may understand, while others may not—this is their issue, not yours! We are also working on a new article: Supporting Parents of Neurodiverse Children: A Guide to Patience and Compassion. Will be released soon, stay tuned!

8. Utilize Online Resources

Many online resources support parents and children with ASD. Websites like Autism Speaks , Autism Resource Project and Fun and Functional offer helpful tips, education, resources and community support. At Mewsic Moves we offer convenient virtual music therapy sessions and FREE events and resources for parents and other paraprofessionals. We would love to have you at our future FREE events. Sign up for FREE HERE

9. Take Time for Yourself! Take a Break!

While it may seem simple, managing a child's extreme panic and anxiety can be quite challenging. As a marriage and family therapist, I emphasize the importance of parents prioritizing self-care to regulate their own emotions, as it's easy to absorb their child's energy and feel as panic and frustrated as they are. Engaging in daily mindfulness practices, taking walks, and other self-care activities can help prepare you to face the difficult challenges that may arise during the holidays.

With thoughtful preparation and the right resources, the holiday season can be an enjoyable and enriching time for children with sensory needs, ASD and their families. By incorporating the therapeutic and calming elements of music and other supportive strategies, you can help your child thrive amidst the holiday hustle.

We are here to help you and your family enjoy the holidays. If you need extra support or would like your loved one to benefit from music therapy for regulation strategies and more, we offer a FREE 15-minute consultation. Our services are available throughout Los Angeles in Santa Monica, Torrance, Long Beach, Glendale, and online!

If you are a parent and need additional support or need some community support we also offer FREE parent resources and events and would love to support you in any way we can. Click here to sign up for FREE parent events/support.

For more information or to schedule a free consultation, visit Mewsic Moves or call 1-833-MEWSIC-1.