Here are 5 tips for parents and caregivers of children with autism or other sensory
disorders that can help keep the calm during the holidays.
1. Know your child’s limits. Get ahead of what can cause a stress.
2. Look for quiet spots – stake out your outing to know where you and your child
can go if they need a break.
3. Decorate gradually – give your child a chance to adjust to the changes in your
home.
4. Avoid Surprises – try to stay close to your normal routine.
5. Appreciate the memories – no matter what happens, cherish the memories. Let’s face it, the holidays are stressful for everyone. These tips are helpful for all children,
but especially those with sensory disorders.
4 Ways for Managing Sensory Processing Disorder at School
1. Listening to calming music
2. Fidget toys (even hair elastics) and inflatable cushions for long periods of sitting to help with focus and concentration
3. Chewable jewelry
4. Doing wall push-ups and jumping jacks for physical stimulation
Ingredients for Snow Dough
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon water
Directions for Making Snow Dough
1. Combine all ingredients in a pan. At first it will seem like you don’t have enough liquid in your mixture, but keep stirring. Eventually you will end up with a very soupy liquid.
2. Place the pan over medium heat. Stir continuously. The mixture will remain soupy for about 5 minutes, and then all of a sudden begin to thicken.
3. Continue stirring until your mixture is quite thick.
4. Dump the mixture out onto a sheet of waxed paper or other surface too cool. Be careful! The mixture will be really hot– even hotter than regular homemade playdough right out of the pan. (After a few minutes I break the mixture into chunks so it will cool more quickly.)