Christmas Break Activities

Christmas break is soon approaching, and for those of us with school-age children, that can be daunting if they are autistic. Sudden changes in routine can be hard for the kids and their parents. Autistic kids need a lot more attention and effort to keep regulated than non-autistic kids and that can throw the whole family for a loop with a sudden shift like a holiday break!

An Opportunity

Although often a challenge, these breaks are also an opportunity to take our kids to new experiences. It’s not always successful the first time, but the only way through it is through it. If you have a few weeks to work with then you might be able to do these activities a few times and establish some new routines for your kids! My autistic daughter, Lydia, has routines for everywhere she goes. For example, her Target routine is different from her Gratiot Park routine. In the area, there are a few places you can take your kids to help them get out of the house in a safe environment and work with them on some important life skills.

It can be scary for a parent to try new things, but be brave! We can do hard things and when it comes to our kids, it’s amazing just how much we can and are willing to overcome. Giving them new experiences is possible with patience, effort, and some (probably a lot) of planning.

Start Small

A very simple place to practice is the grocery store! We like to go to Aldi because it’s small and Lydia can easily access things to pick out. If you are brave you could try Meijer and end back at the fish to help your kid stim and regulate before heading out. We had to work up to Meijer, but now Lydia loves it. A tip would be, if needed, to get a cart and let them sit in the big part and bring headphones! Lydia no longer needs a cart, but she does need her headphones to help with the overwhelming stimuli of walking into a big store. Remember autistic people feel the world differently than neurotypical peers. The lights, the sounds, the temperature change, and the smell all feel a lot different and can cause overstimulation.

Local Places

The Birchwood Mall is another great place to go. They have cars to rent at the entrance off of Target and off of Dunhams. These came in very handy when our kids were smaller to help them feel safe. We often go to the JumpZone where the kids can all enjoy an hour or two doing a multitude of activities. Try to go during times when it’s quieter by calling ahead! Again, headphones can help if it’s too loud, but if your child is super sensitive to sounds this might not be a good choice.

Field Trip to the Mall

Blue Water Jump Zone at Birchwood Mall is a great place to burn some energy and have fun. Also in the mall is a place called The Process. The owner is very familiar with autism and even has a few autistic kids of her own! At The Process, there are a lot of sensory experiences for the kids, and it’s usually pretty quiet there! You can even call ahead and make a reservation to have a little more control.

Discovery City

Another great activity is Port Huron’s newest attraction, Discovery City Children’s Museum. When signing up for the day you can ask for a sensory bag that will give your autistic child some tools while exploring. They are working on having sensory-friendly hours. Try to go right when they open during the week! One perk if you are a receiver of WIC, you get in for half price!

YMCA of the Blue Water Area

Lastly, the YMCA of the Blue Water Area is a fantastic place to take all kids, including those who are autistic. Bouncing a basketball, letting them run free, and taking them swimming are all wonderful activities. We often go to the open swim because it is Lydia’s favorite and the other girls love it too. They have life jackets if needed. Word of caution is the locker room. It can get very congested and loud, so we often get in, grab a family room, and close the door right away. If you know someone with a membership you can go up to three times for free and a family membership is only around 50 or so dollars a month. It’s very affordable and fun for the whole family.

Enjoy your family time over Winter Break.

Story by Jackie Davidson for BlueWaterParent.com

All content of BlueWaterParent.com is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

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