Do you have a kid with SPD? I do, I have 3!
Sensory overstimulation is common among kids who were premmie babies. Light and sound are the most common triggers, but they can be overstimulated by movement, scents, touch, taste, vibrations and electromagnetic fields.
For some kids, taking a few minutes time out will reset their system. For others, it doesn’t work that way. It can range from uncomfortable and intolerable.
Sudden strong overstimulation triggers an immediate surge of adrenaline, anxiety and sometimes nausea. Lower levels can creep up and the consequences can last a couple of days.
Now, imagine if this was you...at Christmas. The lights, sounds and busy crowds start way before the 1st of December these days. Christmas is meant to be the most wonderful time of the year, but for some kids, it’s a constant battle to process the world around them.
What can we do to help?
It’s difficult to avoid, and really not fair to miss out on the fun of Christmas. Gradual increase in tolerance often comes with exposure and age, in a sensory friendly environment. This Christmas, if you are having an event at your work or home, maybe provide a tent or quiet corner for kids to retreat and reset.
If you see a child having a meltdown, don’t always assume it’s bad behaviour. It could be the world is just too bright or too loud at that moment. Respect a parent who is limited in what they can do to stop it.
We will be hosting a book launch on the 1st of December at Little Gnome for my latest picture book, Little Gnome’s Christmas Wish, a book about a little gnome with sensory processing disorder who loves Christmas but struggles with the lights, noise and crowds.
Children of all abilities are welcome to come and share an inclusive sensory friendly experience of the real meaning of Christmas, spending time with friends and family who love you and accepts you for who you are.
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/sensory-friendly-christmas-book-launch-tickets-73523888931?ref=eios
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