THE HOLIDAYS
The holiday season can be a stressful time for families. Following are some suggestions which may help ease the stress and make the time more enjoyable for both you and your child:

1) Use a calendar to show your child when the holiday falls. Cross off each day as it passes and tell your child "There are......days left until Thanksgiving" so s/he has plenty of time to prepare. The web site preschoolprintables.com has calendars on it which you can print out and use.

2) Write a Social Story to explain the events you anticipate will happen on the holiday. Read the story to your child each day. If your child is old enough or has an interest, let him/her draw a picture to illustrate the story. A sample social story is included below.

3) If you are traveling for the holiday, allow your child to pack their own "special bag" which includes favorite toys/objects which may be comforting to him/her and ease the stress of being in a different setting.

4) If your child is on a special diet, bring a treat which he/she can share with everyone. Sharing their "special food" may help decrease the feeling of being different.

5) Let your host know that your child may need a "quiet spot" to take breaks in. Ask your host to tell you where the "quiet spot" is and show your child where it is right away so they know where they can go if they need some quiet time.

6) Make a paper chain to indicate the number of days until the upcoming holiday. Have your child rip off a link each morning until the holiday arrives.

Sample Holiday Social Story: Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a holiday.
On Thanksgiving, I do not go to school.
I get to be with my family.
We will go to Grandma and Grandpa's house on Thanksgiving day.
I like to go to Grandma and Grandpa's.
When I go to Grandma's I can bring a toy with me.
I can share my toy with the other people.

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