Dear Parents,
I would like to talk about how we can use sensory process science to go through the holidays smoothly and survive in the face of changing situations.
Holidays are sometimes challenging because they are stressful, can invite developmental disruptions, and can even exacerbate developmental delays. I think we can overcome stress by creating strategies to reconsider our habits, roles, routines, and rituals.
Holiday stress can exacerbate disruptive behaviors for families. The more internal experiences our children have, the more they rely on external structure and organization to feel calm and peaceful.
As I just mentioned, holidays are stressful because they require change. They disrupt routine and demand new responses to the changing environment. Since it is outside our routine and new, it creates a stress factor. What I want to explain here is that contexts change during holiday periods (including spending time at home on the weekend). (Indoor flowers, breakable plates, different smells, non-routine meals and presentation, …)
For some children, they struggle to organize internally, especially due to delays in the sensory motor system. This can negatively impact the family's attempt to enjoy the holiday experience.
Think about how you feel when you enter a foreign environment. There are many unfamiliar sounds, smells and sights. This situation may overstimulate your child, disrupt his/her internal balance and create an environment for destructive behavior. Thus, they may experience the feeling of overstimulation. As a holiday approaches, it can be a good strategy to slowly incorporate your child into the expected changes in routine and gradually prepare the routines for the change.
To improve the quality of your holiday,
- Think about what the holiday really means. You can drop any traditions that are not necessary to you.
- You can make big tasks small. Small tasks are less tiring for both you and your child.
- Being part of a game with your child, working on a project, enjoying a book. It can help reduce stress and increase a child's sense of security.
- Remember, when parents are stressed, children's stress levels also increase. Quality alone time is also extremely important for parents.
- Encourage them to use their imagination.
- Teach your child limits and limitlessness.
- Set up a money and time ritual. .
- Focus on the meaning of your traditions (togetherness, family time).
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