Holi is right around the corner and along with it comes an abundance of colors, lights and endless festivities. This can prove to be disruptive for kids on the autism spectrum. It is very likely that these festivities might trigger a bout of sensory overload.
As we know, some children are triggered by noises, while others are triggered by lights, large crowds or sights. Before you attend that Holi party or the celebration in your neighborhood, make sure to pinpoint what exactly causes sensory overload in your child. This will make it easier for you to take the necessary preventive measures.
Here are some tips which might help –
- Keep a plan with you when you enter a highly stimulating environment. Identify safe spaces ahead of time in case your kid starts getting overwhelmed.
- One of the most important things is preparing your kid before you enter a situation with possible triggers. Talking about what the experience will be like in advance could help in preparing her/him for potentially overwhelming situations.
- A Holi event is going to be an environment with a lot of stimuli. Make sure you give your child breaks in between to do some deep breathing or simply “get some air.”
- Put together a backpack of items that provide sensory relief to your child so that she/he can use these objects to help calm them down.
- Even when you’ve done everything you can to prevent sensory overload, chances are that it might still happen. Catching those signs early is the key. As soon as you’ve identified early signs of sensory overload, remove your child from that situation.
