SHIELD Task Force’s Post

🎉 Thanksgiving is a time for family and gratitude, but it can be overwhelming for kids with sensory needs. Here are 3 tips from St. Mary’s to make the holiday more sensory-friendly: 🍂 Thanksgiving Sensory Bin: Fill a bin with dried corn kernels, mini pumpkins, fake leaves, and scoops to keep little hands engaged while celebrating. 🍴 Weighted Support for Mealtime: Use a weighted lap blanket or festive pillow during dinner to provide calming sensory input and ease stress. 🛋️ Create a “Calm Corner” : Set up a cozy space with fidget tools, headphones, and Thanksgiving-themed items like pumpkin-scented playdough or coloring pages for a relaxing retreat. At St. Mary’s, we believe in creating joyful, inclusive holiday moments for every child. 💙 Like, share, or comment to help others! #SensoryTherapy #ThanksgivingTips #SpecialNeedsParenting #InclusiveHolidays #SensoryFriendly #StMarysStrong #HolidaySupport #ParentingHacks

Preparation, understanding, and support! And throw in some grace for good measure. Trust your instincts. 💜 💥 Remember that every child is unique, and it's okay if your Thanksgiving celebration doesn't follow conventional traditions. Prioritize your child's well-being and enjoyment!! Here are a few tips to have a successful holiday with friends and family... 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: Share the plans and schedule with your child beforehand, using visual aids or a social story to help them understand what to expect. 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘆-𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Create a calm and comfortable space where your child can retreat if they become overwhelmed. Consider noise-cancelling headphones, a weighted blanket, or familiar toys to help them feel secure. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀: Inform your guests about your child's needs that will help everyone have a more enjoyable day. Encourage them to be patient and accommodating. 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀: Stick to your child's typical schedules as much as possible, including meal times and bedtime routines. This consistency can help them feel more secure and reduce anxiety. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀: Schedule short breaks throughout the day to allow your child to recharge and decompress. This can be a quiet activity or a walk outside to provide a sensory break. 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀: Consider your child's food preferences and sensitivities. Offer alternative options that they enjoy to ensure they have something they're comfortable eating. 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: Involve your child in Thanksgiving preparations, such as setting the table, decorating, or helping with simple cooking tasks. This can provide a sense of engagement and accomplishment. 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀: Use visual supports like a visual schedule or a "first-then" board to help your child understand and follow the day's activities. #knowledgenowsolutions #telehealthaba #bcba #drbrittfarley

The holiday season can be overstimulating for young children with all the bright lights, new faces, and disrupted routines. Our top tips to help you navigate the next month are: Stick to routines: Try to maintain regular nap and mealtimes as much as possible. Predictability helps children feel secure. Create calm spaces: Designate a quiet corner at gatherings where little ones can retreat if they become overwhelmed. Involve them: Let children participate in simple tasks like decorating cookies or wrapping gifts. It makes them feel included and excited without being overstimulated. Sensory-friendly activities: Choose holiday activities that are gentle on their senses, like soft Christmas music, simple crafts, or storytime with festive books. #sunshinesociety #wellnessjourney #holistichealth

✨ Parents Hosting Christmas: Let’s Talk About Being Present, Not Just Busy ✨ If you’re hosting Christmas this year, you’re probably juggling a million things: planning meals, organising gifts, decorating, and managing the chaos. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and forget to enjoy the day yourself. Here’s the secret to a stress-free Christmas: Prep in advance so you can be fully present. 🎁 Things you can do now: • Prepare and freeze any meals, desserts, or side dishes. • Wrap gifts as you buy them to avoid the last-minute rush. • Set the table the night before. • Delegate tasks—let the kids or partner help with small jobs! By planning ahead, you’ll free up precious time to actually relax and enjoy Christmas Day with your family. ✨ Because the real magic of Christmas is in the moments, not the to-do list. 💖 What’s one thing you’re prepping in advance this year? Share below! #NearlyThere #ChristmasPrep #StressFreeChristmas #ConsciousParenting #EnjoyTheMagic

🎄 Holidays can be magical—but for families with sensory-sensitive kids, they can also be overwhelming. Here’s one simple tip to make the season more sensory-friendly! ✨ Create a Quiet Zone: Designate a calm, quiet space in your home or at holiday gatherings. Fill it with comforting items like noise-canceling headphones, favorite toys, or a weighted blanket. This gives your child a safe place to retreat if things get too loud or overstimulating. 🌟 Remember, it’s okay to take breaks and adjust traditions to fit your family’s needs. The goal is to make the season joyful for everyone. Do you have a go-to sensory-friendly holiday tip? Share it in the comments—we’d love to hear it! #SensoryFriendly #AutismAwareness #HolidayTips

🎄 How To Create Magical Memories with Your Kids This Holiday Season! 🎄 The holidays are the perfect time to connect with your kids, and I’ve just shared 5 simple, fun ways to make every moment count! Inside the blog post I am also giving away a free guide of 20 ways to make quality time with your kids as a single mom memorable. Whether it’s crafting decorations, baking holiday treats, or exploring the great outdoors, these activities will help you bond while creating unforgettable memories. ✨ *Why it matters*: Quality time strengthens family bonds and boosts your kids’ emotional well-being. ✨ *Why you’ll love it*: These ideas are simple,free and budget-friendly, and full of joy! 🎁 Ready to make this holiday season extra special? Check out my latest blog post for all the details: here https://lnkd.in/dwwwuzVn 💡 Let me know in the comments—what’s your favorite way to spend time with your kids? And don’t forget to follow me for more ideas on parenting, empowerment, and thriving as a single mom! #FamilyTime #HolidayMemories #ParentingTips #SingleMomJourney #ProsperityQueens #Lifeofasinglemom

4 Holiday Tips for Kids with Special Needs 🎄✨ 1️⃣ Stick to a Predictable Schedule: Holidays can bring excitement and unpredictability. Maintaining a routine and sharing the day’s plan in advance can help reduce anxiety. 2️⃣ Prepare for Sensory Overload: Festive lights, music, and crowds can be overwhelming. Equip your child with noise-canceling headphones or create a calming space to retreat to when needed. 3️⃣ Encourage Participation: Let your child join holiday activities in ways that make them comfortable, whether it’s decorating, baking, or creating handmade cards. 4️⃣ Communicate with Family: Share your child’s needs and preferences with family members to foster an inclusive and understanding environment. Together, let’s make this holiday season magical and inclusive for every child! 💕 #HolidaySupport #SpecialNeedsCare #InclusiveHolidays #AidingWithCareHealthServices

How to Support Your Well-Being Even When You are Super Busy The two-month holiday season beginning at Halloween and ending at New Year's Day is jam-packed with celebrations. For many of us, it is not only the busiest season of the year, it is also the most stress-inducing. To learn how to support your well-being during any stressful stretch, check out our blog post, "Getting Down the Basics." https://lnkd.in/eMWuwGKc

Is this you? Running around like a headless chicken (or muddy dog!) trying to get everything done before you finish up for Christmas? Let’s face it, we are all blooming busy without the addition of Christmas. We have overflowing ‘to do’ lists, trying to cram in work, life, home, kids, fun and some much needed sleep. Then come December, every year without fail, we ramp it up! Not just once notch, but about 20 or 30! We are desperately trying to complete that overflowing ‘to do’ list in record time. We have now added to it, with all the present buying, menu planning, house decorating etc, etc. And on top of that, there’s all those extra social engagements we have to go to. Whereas all we really want to do is curl up on the sofa, or have an early night, because we’re already exhausted! It’s okay to slow down for Christmas, not speed up. It’s okay to do Christmas your way. We put so much pressure on ourselves to make each year perfect, better than the last, when we all know, there’s no such thing as perfect. I’m one of the lucky ones. No one is putting pressure on me to do Christmas their way. What’s one thing you can do to ease the pressure of Christmas for you this year? Video of Nell being Nell! Having fun and doing the build up to Christmas her way! #christmas #toomuch #slowdown #busy #pressure

It’s hard to believe Thanksgiving is only 13 days away! The holiday season is approaching fast, and while it can be filled with wonderful memories, it can also be stressful. Here are 5 ways to help reduce that stress: 🤲 Start Early and Share the Load Get the whole family involved in planning and prepping early. Assign tasks like gift shopping, decorating, or meal prep so no one feels overwhelmed at the last minute. 🍖 Set Simple, Meaningful Traditions Focus on the traditions that matter most to your family and skip the extra pressures— make memories without over-scheduling. 🤍 Be Realistic About Expectations Let go of “perfect” and embrace what’s realistic for your family. It’s okay if things aren’t flawless—what matters is being together and enjoying each other’s company. 📋 Create a Holiday Budget as a Family Sit down as a family and agree on a budget for gifts, food, and activities. It helps avoid financial stress and keeps expectations in check, especially for kids. 🤗 Make Time for Family Self-Care Prioritize family downtime—whether it’s taking walks together, playing games, or simply unwinding. Allow everyone moments to recharge so you can all stay present and enjoy the season. #estateplanning #thanksgiving #holidaytraditions #wills #familyplanning