A very merry autistic Christmas! hopefully

                 Christmas is upon us! Christmas with Phillip has been a very different experience in every way. Typically kids are jumping for joy and can’t wait to open presents, but that is not the case with the little man. We put up the tree last night, the lights and ornaments were amazing to him. Yes, he has witnessed this living room light show before but he has also taken a new interest in The Polar Express so he associated it this year with something he loves. I also made the very wise decision last year of buying plastic bulb ornaments after Christmas for very cheap. Glass no more and for good reason, his little hands must touch and sometimes throw or drop. Glass ornaments have been a Christmas hazard in our home.

                The process of opening presents has never been clearly understood for Phillip. He has finally started to pick up on the fact a new object is inside and I say object because gift is not really what his mind is thinking. We always try to get his attention and root him on to open a present but it ends up being me opening it and until he actually sees what is in it, no interest. The struggle after that is all that dang packaging companies put on toys and between his desire to investigate and the almost impossible packaging removal, we can border on an overload by the time he has it in his hands, or he has moved on and has no interest at all.

                This year I have really put my mind in autism mode to try and make things a bit easier. Easier and autism don’t really go hand in hand but I think sometimes we can actually ease a bit of the chaos by taking just a few things into consideration.

                First, I have really considered the chaos of toys. If you take a good look toys are extremely bright and seems toy companies are on a mission to outdo each other with big, loud, and busy. I want to just get away from some of these toys so I know Phillip has to feel like these toys are hitting his mind like an atomic bomb. Number one change this year was choice of toys. The color needed to be less bold; the sound needed to be quiet or clear and just because the company claims it will educate your child doesn’t mean that is actually what it will do. This website has some awesome sensory friendly toys and the colors are toned way down from your typical toys, http://justb-byou.com/toys/

                Target carries this line of toys and I bought the Symphony B for Phillip this year. It’s busy but not in a too much way, and the sound is extremely clear. Not to mention I have no problem tolerating the sounds of the Symphony while I go about my day.

                Second adjustment for the holiday was less is more. A child who becomes overwhelmed easily should not have a mountain of bold, loud, new things standing in from of them. This will not go well so take it easy on how much. I know Phillip isn’t paying an attention to the amount of things he is getting, and that is an awesome quality. Take advantage of it if you can but not a point of cruelty either because it is Christmas.

                Second thing I considered to ease the holiday is before I wrap his presents I am going to remove the packaging. Anything that prolongs the process of getting his little hands on it is going bye bye. The packaging to a child without autism is a symbol of something new, but to Phillip it is simply a barrier and possible a brick wall that his interest will bounce right off of. I haven’t bought so much that anything will be returned so no worries there.

                Last but not least is taking an intense interest and running with it. Airplanes happens to be Phillips greatest interest so if has an airplane I know he will at least take a look at it because he just can’t resist.

                Basically my advice for the holiday is taking it easy. Over the top is too much, remove barriers if possible, and run with an interest. If you follow those basic guidelines there should be some success of avoiding a bit of the chaos. Most of all just breathe and remember the years pass way too quickly. One day you will be sitting at home waiting for your children to come home for Christmas and all you are going to remember is how little they used to be.