Preparing Your Child and Yourself for a Successful Holiday Season

For families of kids with special needs, the holiday season is a mixed bag. While holiday celebrations are meant to be fun and exciting, the realities of the season typically make them stressful and demanding. Routines and social schedules are frequently disrupted; travel tends to be hectic; “too many new people and places” cause anxiety and sensory overload; and expectations are likely to fall short. Although family members and friends may be well-meaning, oftentimes they just don’t “get” our kids. For example, they might not understand that our kids often need to self-regulate in ways they’re not used to: by crawling into a quiet, soft space; laying on a cold surface; spending more—not less— time on screens; jumping on a trampoline—or mattress or couch— or chewing on a T-shirt.

Justyna Balzar, MEd, BCBA, co-founder of The Hangout Spot, will join us for a short presentation, followed by a lively discussion about strategies and scripts we can use to calm ourselves and our kids during particularly challenging times.

We will meet in a parent’s home in Wilton. (Registrants will receive the address specifics on November 6)

Registration is required.  Register online.