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"It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”… The following link(s) will open in one new tab or window. Should you have any questions regarding this article, please follow the specific contact information provided. This article originally appeared in Parent to Parent’s STAR, Volume 15, November – December 2008 and was written by Sharon Marrella, Regional Coordinator, Parent to Parent of NYS, Watkins Glen. The links have been updated since its original appearance as necessary. “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”…unless…you consider the extra stress associated when combining holidays and children with special needs. The extra preparation, time, effort, planning and stress this time of year brings for parents and caregivers like us—above the usual holiday stress. And here’s the thing—it is almost like its own unique holiday tradition when you think about it. For a lot of us, this time of year brings the same challenges and extra planning that other families don’t understand or deal with in their homes. And to prove that point, part of this opening might remind the e-group faithful of last year’s newsletter opener. That’s because for many of us, the holiday season doesn’t change that much from year to year. We still have the same issues to contend with each holiday season. Someone outside our situation can’t begin to understand the frustration when you have a child whose idea of the holidays doesn’t even remotely resemble that of a Norman Rockwell painting. Throw family into the mix and well, you can have a situation that screams “headache.” So, here we are with Thanksgiving right around the corner and extended family has begun the annual bargaining (read outrageous cash bribe in my older son’s case) to get their version of a “perfect holiday.” They might mean well; but they just don’t get it. Accept it. Except that many times we are doing battle with the “Martha” idea of the holiday. So what if Thanksgiving includes popcorn chicken and barbecue sauce instead of turkey and cranberry sauce—does that really matter? Shouldn’t we give thanks for being together rather than focusing on a preconceived notion? The holidays can be extremely stressful for families who have special health care concerns and dietary restrictions. Children as well as adults look forward to special treats around the holiday season, home baked goodies they don’t have throughout the rest of the year, or maybe just an extra serving of mashed potatoes! For children with dietary restrictions, it is important to be sensitive to their needs. Holiday parties in the classroom can be very difficult for children who are not able to participate. Be sure to have items available that will feel like a special treat for them whether it’s a small token or prize. For family gatherings, keep in mind the special needs of others you may not see often and make sure you have things available for them. It can’t hurt to call ahead and ask! On the other hand, it may be the differences in routine and sensory issues that impact your child. Maybe your child with sensory needs simply can not stand all those light displays in the store—especially if they are blinking. Or, the sound of Christmas music this early in the season sets off your child with Asperger’s Syndrome because it isn’t logical. (They do have a point…) Or traveling with your child and their special medical equipment and prescriptions gives you such a chill that Jack Frost would be envious. How to survive the next couple of months? Consider some of these suggestions and remember that getting through the day is triumph enough sometimes. We also need to remember that we as parents must take care of ourselves too. So, indulge in a cup of hot cocoa and a store bought cut-out cookie while you visit these sites.
Holidays & Autism:
Preemie in the hospital for holidays
How to have a happy holiday with your child: Reducing Stress:
www.psychcentral.com/lib/2007/special-occasions-and-special-needs-kids/ Special Diets: Good overview on different special dietary needs:
www.gourmetspot.com/specialdietfeature.htm Healthier holiday recipes for all: www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=58593 Diabetes Recipes: (lots of recipes on this site—some are for older taste buds)
www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/holiday-meals.jsp Gluten Free Recipes:
glutenfreemommy.com/recipes/ Sensory Needs:
www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-strategies-for-holidays.html Special Health Concerns & Holiday Travel: www.specialneedsparenting.suite101.com/article.cfm/special_needs_for_holiday_travel Airline travel & special needs: www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_go2827/is_/ai_n28994259 Dealing with Family:
www.specialchildren.about.com/od/inthecommunity/a/holiday.htm Holiday Traditions:
www.ehow.com/how_2148394_holiday-traditions-children.html Less Materialistic Holiday: www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/holidays_materialistic.html Out in the Community: ici.umn.edu/products/impact/143/over09.html (Jewish participation for child with special needs; focuses mostly on Bar Mitzvah, but still has good general ideas for participation) Simple Crafts:
www.papersnowflakes.com/ Keep kids learning over break:
www.specialchildren.about.com/od/learningissues/tp/learnvacation.htm Special Toys (NONE of these websites are to be considered endorsed by Parent to Parent of NYS. These are just some examples of options that are available to parents.) In order for you to view the publication(s) (PDF) above, you will require Adobe Reader. This is a free download and if you do not already have it, you can get it by clicking on the "Adobe Link" below. The link will open in a new tab or window.
December 2009
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August 2010 Contact Us
Phone: 1-800-395-3372 Upcoming DDPC Meetings August 2010:
8/9/10 - Chilodrens Issues Committee Meeting *Notice* Open Government and the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC). All DDPC meetings are held in Albany, NY unless otherwise noted. Under law, the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) meetings and DDPC Standing Committee meetings are open meetings. If the public wants to attend, they can attend as observers. Participants may be asked to leave during breaks in the deliberations and when the meeting goes into executive session. If more information, please contact the DDPC directly.
People First Language The DDPC strictly adheres to and encourages the use of people first language. However you may note that in some articles/stories appearing in the E-Bulletin the language used is not always entirely people first. Articles submitted to the DDPC are taken verbatim from the source and are therefore not edited by the DDPC for correct people first language due to copyright restrictions. |
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