How to Celebrate a Sensory-Friendly Holiday for Kids with Autism

The holiday season seems to start earlier every year.

Barely getting through Halloween, we’re already spotting snowman inflatables and festive displays in store windows. It’s a time of year many children look forward to (and adults, too!), but all the excitement can also bring additional stress.

For children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or developmental delays, holiday traditions can introduce unfamiliar sights, sounds, smells, textures and routines. Even children who love the magic of Christmas, Hanukkah or other seasonal celebrations may find certain activities overwhelming.

That doesn’t mean your child—or your family—needs to miss out on the joy. Sometimes, making the holidays more sensory-friendly simply means adjusting familiar traditions, finding new ways to celebrate or giving your child a little more time to prepare.

With some thoughtful planning and flexibility, you can create holiday experiences that feel comfortable, meaningful and fun for everyone.

If you’re looking for ways to make the season more accessible, here are five common holiday challenges, along with BCBA-informed tips for more holiday cheer.

5 Ways to Make the Holidays Autism-Friendly

1. Holiday Shopping: Prepare for a Sensory-Friendly Shopping Trip

The challenge: Shopping outings can be tough for children with autism any time of year. During the holidays, crowded stores, extended walking, bright displays, festive music and long checkout lines can make an already busy environment feel overwhelming. Add the pressure of finding gifts for everyone on your list, and a joyful shopping trip can quickly become stressful.

A little preparation can help your child feel more comfortable and give your family a plan for navigating the holiday crowds.

Try these holiday shopping tips:

• Make a list. A short, focused shopping list can reduce wandering, browsing and on-the-spot decisions. Decide who you’re shopping for and which stores you’ll visit before leaving home. Setting expectations ahead of time can also help avoid disappointment if your child wants to purchase something that isn’t on the list.
• Talk about what to expect. Let your child know where you’re going, what the store might look and sound like, and how long you plan to stay. Photos of the store or a simple social narrative can make an unfamiliar environment more predictable.
• Create a visual or written schedule. List each stop in order, such as the store, checkout, snack break and car ride home. A visual schedule can help your child see what comes next and understand when the trip will be finished.
• Bring comfort items and snacks. Noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, a favorite toy, a fidget item or a preferred snack may help your child feel more comfortable. A tablet can also be useful during the car ride or while waiting. You know your child best, so plan for the items that work for them.
• Avoid peak shopping times. Early mornings or less crowded weekdays may offer a calmer experience. Some retailers also host sensory-friendly shopping hours, so check with stores in your area. Ask about planned events, too. If Santa and his elves will be visiting and your child would prefer to avoid the added excitement, consider choosing another time.
• Plan for breaks. Agree on a signal your child can use when they need a break. Identify a quiet area or a place to step outside, and know where the car is if your child needs more time away from the crowd.
• Shop online when it makes sense. There’s no shame in skipping the store altogether. Online shopping can help your family avoid the crowds, and your child can still participate by choosing gifts from the comfort of home.

The goal isn’t to make your child enjoy every shopping trip. It’s to create an experience that feels manageable, with flexibility to adjust when needed.

2. Cold Weather Clothing: Make Bundling Up More Comfortable

The challenge: The holidays also bring the arrival of Old Man Winter. Coats, hats, gloves and boots become staples of our wardrobes, introducing new sensations like unfamiliar fabric textures, extra weight, tight cuffs and scratchy seams.

Some children may have difficulty tolerating winter clothing, while others may have trouble recognizing when they need an extra layer or are getting too warm. Winter doesn’t have to become a daily battle. With choices, practice and encouragement, your child can become more comfortable getting ready for the cold.

Try these cold-weather clothing tips:

• Let your child choose their favorite winter clothes. Giving your child a say can help them feel more comfortable with what they’re wearing. Let them feel different fabrics before purchasing and look for soft fleece, tagless designs, flat seams or lighter-weight insulated coats. A favorite color or character can make a difference, too. Once you find something that works, consider buying multiples in different colors or sizes.
• Make getting dressed fun. Pair winter gear with something your child enjoys. That might be praise, a favorite song while getting dressed, extra time with a tablet or a special activity once they’re bundled up. Start with a manageable step, such as putting on a hat, and build from there.
• Lay out clothes the night before. Predictability can lower stress for children and caregivers alike. Setting out the next day’s outfit in the order it goes on can remove surprises from the morning rush. A visual guide showing each clothing item may also help.
• Practice before the cold arrives. Let your child try on new winter clothing indoors for short periods while doing something enjoyable. Becoming familiar with the feel of a coat, hat or boots before they’re needed outside can make the transition easier.
• Layer for comfort. A soft base layer may help buffer uncomfortable outerwear, while multiple lighter layers can allow your child to adjust if they become too warm. This can be especially helpful for children who are sensitive to bulky clothing or have difficulty with temperature regulation.

And remember, not every child needs to wear the same winter outfit. If a different combination of clothing keeps your child warm and comfortable, that can be a perfectly reasonable solution.

3. Meeting Santa: Follow Your Child’s Lead

The challenge: A visit with Santa Claus, his tiny elves and flying reindeer can be magical. For a child with autism, however, it can also be a lot to take in. Bright lights, loud music, crowds of strangers, a long wait and a jolly, bearded person in a red suit they’ve never met can make the experience overwhelming.

Even children who adore Santa may have a hard time with the setting or expectations surrounding a traditional visit.

Try these Santa visit tips:

• Look for sensory-friendly Santa experiences. Many malls, community organizations and local venues offer quieter, more supportive Santa events. Once you find an option, call ahead to ask about wait times, appointment availability, lighting, music and whether your child can stand nearby instead of sitting on Santa’s lap.
• Practice at home. Role-play the visit with a family member wearing a Santa hat. Practice waving, saying hello or handing Santa a letter. You could also use photos, videos or a social narrative to help your child become familiar with what might happen.
• Let your child lead. Some children may enjoy sitting next to Santa, while others prefer to stand nearby, sit on a caregiver’s lap or simply hand over a letter. Follow your child’s cues and give Santa a quick heads-up about what works best. A photo or physical interaction isn’t necessary for the experience to be meaningful.
• Have an alternative ready. If a visit with Santa feels like too much, you can still create a memorable holiday tradition at home. Consider a cozy Santa-themed movie night, coloring pictures to send to the North Pole, a video call with Santa or holiday arts and crafts. Some services even offer personalized video messages from Santa to capture the spirit of the season.

For more ideas, check out our blog post on how to introduce your child to Santa in a relaxed setting.

4. Receiving Presents: Make Gift-Giving More Comfortable

The challenge: Waiting for a turn to open presents is a learned skill, and it can be tough for children of any age. For children with autism or developmental delays, a pile of gifts, a room full of excited children, unfamiliar toys and the noise of a holiday gathering can quickly become overstimulating.

The gift itself can also bring unexpected challenges. A child may not immediately know what’s inside, how to use it or how to respond to the person who gave it to them. A little preparation can help make the experience more enjoyable.

Try these gift-giving tips:

• Share your child’s interests with gift-givers ahead of time. Let family members and friends know what your child enjoys, along with any items or experiences that may cause discomfort. A short, simple gift list can help loved ones choose something your child is more likely to enjoy.
• Help relatives understand how your child may express appreciation. A quick heads-up can help gift-givers recognize that a smile, sign language, an exchanged picture card or simply playing with a gift may be your child’s way of showing thanks. Children don’t need to demonstrate appreciation in a particular way to have it understood.
• Space out gifts and open them one at a time. Slowing the pace gives your child time to enjoy each present rather than feeling flooded by wrapping paper, toys and boxes. If opening gifts in front of a large group is uncomfortable, consider opening some privately or at home. You can always follow up with a thank-you card or message.
• Offer something to do while waiting. If taking turns is difficult, a favorite toy, book or quiet fidget can help pass the time and ease frustration. You can also create a simple visual schedule to show when it will be your child’s turn.
• Keep supplies nearby. Have child-safe scissors, batteries and a screwdriver available when appropriate. Helping your child open packaging or get a new toy working right away can prevent an already exciting experience from turning into a frustrating wait.

There’s no need to rush through the gift-opening process. Giving your child time and space to enjoy a present in their own way can be just as special as the moment it’s unwrapped.

5. Decorating for the Holidays: Make Your Home a Sensory-Friendly Space

The challenge: Holiday decorations can make familiar spaces look, sound and feel completely different. Twinkling lights, giant singing Santa displays, evergreen scents, candles and ornaments can be exciting for some children but overwhelming for others.

Even when a child enjoys certain decorations, a sudden change in their environment may be difficult to adjust to. A few thoughtful changes can help your child enjoy the season while still feeling comfortable at home and in the community.

Try these holiday decorating tips:

• Decorate gradually. Instead of changing the entire space at once, introduce a few decorations at a time. Think of it as the opposite of a “rip the Band-Aid off” approach. Giving your child time to adjust can make changes feel more manageable.
• Include your child in the process. Let your child choose which decorations to display or help decide where they should go. They might enjoy trimming the tree, placing ornaments, hanging a favorite decoration or choosing a holiday centerpiece. Offering choices can help make the changes feel more predictable.
• Consider your child’s sensory preferences. Limit flashing lights, loud or motion-activated decorations and strong holiday scents if they’re uncomfortable for your child. Steady lights and quieter décor may be easier to enjoy. On the other hand, if your child is a sensory seeker who loves sparkling ornaments, musical displays or colorful lights, there’s no need to avoid them, unless they become a safety issue.
• Keep a familiar space decoration-free. Maintain at least one area of your home where the environment remains calm and unchanged. A familiar bedroom, quiet corner or comfortable space can offer your child a place to take a break when needed.
• Prepare for decorations outside the home. Before visiting a decorated home, holiday event or light display, share photos or videos of what your child may see. Bring helpful comfort items and have a plan to take a break or leave early if the experience becomes overwhelming. You can also consider visiting during a quieter time of day.

If your family celebrates Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or another holiday, these same ideas can apply to candles, seasonal displays and other traditions. For example, an electronic menorah or Kinara may be a more comfortable alternative to open flames for some families.

The goal is to make room for the traditions your family enjoys while honoring your child’s individual needs and preferences.

Help Your Child Enjoy the Holidays in Their Own Way

The holidays don’t have to look a certain way to be meaningful. Whether your family enjoys a bustling holiday gathering, a quiet afternoon decorating at home or a new tradition that better fits your child’s needs, there’s no single right way to celebrate.

A little preparation, flexibility and understanding can go a long way in helping your child feel included and comfortable. And if a plan needs to change along the way, that’s ok, too.

Need more support during the holidays or throughout the year? Hopebridge’s applied behavior analysis (ABA) and outpatient therapy teams are here to help. Talk with your child’s BCBA or therapist about strategies that may support your child during seasonal activities, changes in routine and everyday experiences.