🎄  (That Make the Season Easier for Everyone)

A gentle guide for creating calm, predictable, sensory-friendly holidays — even during the busiest time of year.

The holiday season is magical, but for ADHD, autistic, and sensory-sensitive kids, it can also be overstimulating, unpredictable, and overwhelming.
The changes in routines…
The noises and lights…
The social demands…
The excitement layered with anxiety…

It’s a lot.

The good news? With the right supports, the holidays can feel calmer, smoother, and much more joyful for everyone. Here are five simple, neurodiversity-affirming strategies that help kids stay regulated and confident during the holiday rush.

🎁 1. Use Visual Schedules to Create Predictability

Kids thrive when they know what’s coming next.
A simple visual schedule for:

• holiday events

• morning routines

• bedtime routines

• travel days

• school breaks

…can prevent anxiety and reduce meltdowns before they begin.

Even one page of visuals can turn a chaotic day into something your child can manage.

Pro Tip:
The Holiday Calm System includes ready-made visual schedules for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas — perfect for last-minute support.

🌿 2. Build in Sensory Breaks (Before They’re Needed)

Sensory overload builds quietly and then shows up all at once.
Instead of waiting for your child to “lose it,” schedule sensory breaks ahead of time.

Some favorites:

• Jumping jacks

• Deep pressure squeezes

• Quiet corner with a book

• Noise-canceling headphones

• Fidget basket

• A short walk outside

Think of them as “calm checkpoints” throughout the day.

🎨 3. Use Calm Choice Boards to Support Emotional Regulation

Kids often want to calm down — they just don’t know how.
Visual choice boards give them options they can see and choose, like:

• “Take a break”

• “Ask for space”

• “Deep breaths”

• “Use a fidget”

• “Get a hug”

Choice = power, and power reduces overwhelm.

Your Holiday Calm System includes calm-down choice boards for each holiday theme.

🕯️ 4. Simplify Transitions with Clear Expectations

Transitions are one of the hardest parts of the holidays.
Some kids need:

• a timer

• a countdown

• a visual “finished/next” card

• a short script like:
  “First we clean up, then we watch a movie.”

When transitions are predictable and visual, kids feel safer — and holidays feel smoother.

💛 5. Keep at Least One Routine Stable

Holiday schedules get wild, but anchoring your child with just one predictable routine helps regulate their nervous system.

It could be:

• the same bedtime sequence

• morning routine

• daily quiet time

• regular snack/lunch schedule

Consistency = calm.

🌟 Want Holiday Calm Already Done for You?

If you want easy, visual supports to guide your child through the season, the Holiday Calm System is here to help.

🎄 Inside you’ll get:

• Holiday visual schedules

• Calm choice boards

• Emotion charts

• First/Then supports

• Sensory strategy cards

• Picture cues

• Predictable routine helpers

• Halloween, Thanksgiving, + Christmas versions

All designed for ADHD, autistic, and sensory-sensitive kids.

✨ Because every child deserves a calm, joyful holiday season.
✨ And every parent deserves support that really works.

👉 Get the Holiday Calm System here