Spending the Holidays with a Child with Autism

The holidays can be fun, exciting, and filled with lots of activities, especially right here in New York City. Some of those can be loud and crowded, too. When you have a child with special needs, this time of year can be challenging. While I want my son to be part of it, not everything works for him and his needs. After lots of trial and error, I have figured out the best way to make him feel included, while hopefully having him understand what is going on. I do have to work extra hard to make this happen but I know it is worth it in the end.

I will also be taking photos and creating a holiday memory album for him. This will be a great way for him to look back at all of the activities he did. Then, I can pull it out in future years to hopefully help get him in the holiday spirit!
 

See the Sights

There is so much to see this time of year in New York City from the giant Christmas trees and menorahs, to the department store holiday windows and ice skaters. We need to get out early to do this since crowds are difficult for my son. The earlier it is, the easier it is to navigate these areas. This gives him the maximum opportunity to enjoy this activity and we can take our time and really soak it in.
 

Bake Together

Baking at this time of year is extra fun! There are so many great choices of delicious foods. Luckily, this happens to be something my son loves to do. Around the holidays, I show him pictures of a few different ideas and let him pick what he would like us to make. I have him help me from start to finish. The options I give him are fairly quick recipes, as his attention span only lasts so long.