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8 Great Tips for a Sensory Friendly Winter Vacation

Winter break is just around the corner.  Yahoo! No school! Yahoo! Uh…Oh… remember last year’s meltdown? We promised never to do that again, but here we are and we need a plan! Don’t sweat it. Here are a few tips for you and your family to keep you rolling smoothly through the holidays and school break.

1. Plan ahead

Sit down with your children, spouse or best friends and brainstorm some winter break activities. Maybe choose a couple museums, but no need to break the bank. You can come up with some great inexpensive ideas such as art activities, stroll the malls, visit to the elderly, movie and some popcorn, story reading time and even a hike (bundle up!).

2. Structure it

Let your kids know ahead of time that you’re going to stick to some structure. Have a daily schedule and post it up on the wall or refrigerator. Down time is great but a full day of down time can create havoc. Make sure you have some structured activities planned as well. Check out your local gym or basketball courts for a place to go run around and get in some good physical activity. You will see better sensory integration with more movement which acts as a sensory filter.

3. Eat and be merry

Make sure meals are planned and part of your day. If you’re headed out for the day, pack well…snacks, drinks, sandwiches and so on. Bring some cruchy chewy snakcs as well: carrot sticks, apple slices, celery sticks and so on. If you have a chewer, throw in some gum or their favorite chewy for the road.

4. Therapy Time

If your child is missing therapy during winter break, use this time to do some of it yourself. Do they need an obstacle course set up? Do they need some climbing, Hugging, Swinging or Brushing time? Make sure these activities are scheduled as well.

5. Pull out the Games

It’s game night. Pull out a family game of Apples to Apples or Backgammon. You can also try: Hide the Timer (set a timer and have everyone race to go find it), or Where’s Heavy Herbert (find Herbert in your house). Just pick a game that everyone can enjoy together. Observe how your children take turns? How long is their attentions span? Problem solving skills? Remember: practice makes improvement!

6. Journal It

Have your children keep a journal for what they do each day during vacation. They can do this digitally or in the old fashioned pencil-to-paper way. You can even get creative and create a 3D version with a box. Get a shoebox and have the kids put an object in it from each day with a note card explaining its relevance. Take some time to look at how your children sit, write and think when they are not under school stress.

7. Snuggle up

This is a great time of year to just snuggle up and hang out on the couch together. Hey, there’s nothing wrong with a little tube time during this time of year. Just keep it in moderation. Pick a show you can watch together. Ask your kids what they like. How does the show make them feel? Where have you seen those actors before? Or if its sports, discuss the game.

8. Look and Listen

Notice your kids and how they are handling the change in routine. Adapt and adjust if necessary. You’ll be sure to have a wonderful holiday with some flexibility added into your holiday routines. Happy Winter Break!!