Help To Minimize Challenging Behavior During The Holidays

I wanted to share this information from MNT to maybe help minimize unwanted behaviors in our precious family members diagnosed with Autism.
I followed some of these suggestions when Sarah was little and didn't know it was the right thing to do. These are just suggestions. Everyone is different and will react differently in any situation. I hope you find them helpful.

1.  Make a schedule of activities each day (using pictures or words) to ensure that expectations are clear for the whole family. Set this up ahead of time to help prepare your child for the events of the day and minimize negative reactions to unexpected activities. Also, don't over schedule the day! Make sure there are plenty of opportunities for breaks and down time.
2.  Have your child assist in the order of events or reinforcement schedule for each day (grocery store first, arcade second, then library). This will provide him/her with choices and a sense of control over portions of the day.
3.  Take a day trip. Visit a museum or sporting event together; boredom can be your worst enemy.
4.  Bring toys, video games, or other entertainment to keep kids occupied during commutes or wait time.
5.  Remember to take visual cues (i.e., schedules and communication devices) with you on outings.
6.  Try to identify the most important part of an occasion and limit your participation to that time period. Visits, family gatherings, and large events can be stressful for kids/teens. If Aunt Edna's Thanksgiving Extravaganza always lasts four hours, plan to arrive just in time for the meal and then leave in a reasonable amount of time to avoid meltdowns.
7.  Create fun in the home with inexpensive ways to entertain your child/teen. For example, create a scavenger hunt, organize arts and crafts activities, build a fort, or play a family game of Twister.
8.  Have reasonable expectations, and pick your battles! If your child/teen is a picky eater, focus more on table manners or his/her interaction with family during the holiday feast, instead of pushing him/her to eat a plateful of new foods.
9.  Be consistent; schedule lunch, snacks, TV, chores, outdoor activities, or arts and crafts during the same time each day to avoid frustration during vacation.
10.  Identify the holiday stressors; either work on them ahead of time or manage them in the vacation schedule. For example, if the endless hugs from family will set your child/teen on the wrong course for the day, then you might need a plan in place to practice that interaction. If that is not possible, then try to manage the situation in the moment with simple and reasonable rules: "Hug three people, and then we will go do something fun together."

One very important thing to remember is to try and remain calm yourself. Sarah would always feed off of my emotions. I found that if I remained as calm as possible it seemed to give her the confidence she needed to get through the situation. So try not to stress out when you are trying to create a stress less environment. Just a thought.