Sensory-Friendly Holiday Tips for Children with Autism
The Spark Learning Blog • Posted by Alix Naginski, MSc, RBT on December 15, 2025
The Magic of Holiday Traditions
The holidays arrive with sparkling lights, family traditions, and plenty of festive cheer. While this season can be magical for many, it may also bring big changes in routine, unfamiliar settings, and heightened sensory input that can feel challenging for children on the autism spectrum. Even simple adjustments can ease stress and help your family build holiday moments that are calm, joyful, and meaningful for everyone.
Practical Tips to Keep Spirits Bright
No two holiday seasons look the same, every child experiences this time of year differently. With a few thoughtful adjustments, your family can build traditions that feel warm, meaningful, and truly enjoyable. Whether your celebrations are lively and festive or calm and cozy, what matters most is creating an environment that supports your child’s comfort and needs. As the season unfolds, new sights, sounds, and routines can feel exciting for some children and overwhelming for others. From decorations and travel to family gatherings and treasured traditions like visiting Santa, each moment brings its own opportunities and challenges.
To help your child feel prepared and supported, consider the following tips:
- Create and use Social Stories
- Use visual schedules or calendars
- Make it visual! Use visual supports as much as possible to explain situations, provide extra directions, or provide helpful prompts as needed
- Keep sensory-friendly items on hand to support regulation (fidgets, noise cancelling headphones, etc.)
- Talk about changes in advance to ensure your child feels prepared
With a bit of preparation and intentional support, you can help your child move through the holiday season with comfort and confidence.
Read on for ideas to navigate common holiday moments, along with simple strategies to make each experience feel calmer, more enjoyable, and better aligned with your child’s unique needs.
Decorations
Holiday decorations can transform the home quickly, and this sudden change can sometimes feel overwhelming or unfamiliar for some children. A few considerations can help:
- Introduce decorations slowly and include your children when decorating.
- Bright lights may be too harsh for some kids. Consider warm-toned lights, gentle sparklers, or dimmable options.
- Choose shatter-proof decorations.
- Large or animated decorations may be scary or surprising.
- Many holiday scents (candles, pine sprays, or seasonal fragrances) can be too strong. Consider lighter scented items or scent-free options if your child is sensitive to smells.
Traveling
Holiday travel introduces new experiences, from long car rides to busy airports. Helping your child anticipate what’s ahead can ease the uncertainty. Use visual supports, Social Stories, and talk through what they can expect. By introducing the possibilities you may encounter during your travel day, it helps the unknown become familiar.
Family visits
Gathering with family can be wonderful, but also stimulating and unpredictable. Setting clear expectations helps your child feel grounded:
- Discuss how to request breaks and alone time
- Go over expected routines in the home you’re visiting
- Prime familiar outings you know will take place that your child will enjoy
- Allow your child to complete tasks at their own pace
- Provide ways for your child to regulate, such as noise-cancelling headphones or fidgets
Visiting Santa
Part of the magic of Christmas for many families is the tradition of meeting Santa Claus. Here are a few ways you can prep your child ahead of time to make the experience enjoyable:
- Explain who Santa Claus is and why he’s part of Christmas traditions
- Use a visual schedule to review waiting in line
- Give them choices, such as asking if the child wants to sit or stand next to Santa
- Review social expectations:
- How to greet Santa
- Keeping calm hands
- Understanding that gifts won’t be given that day, but they can share their wish list with Santa
- Any other expectations your child may need support with
With preparation and patience, this season can bring joy to your whole family, one sensory-friendly moment at a time.
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