Navigating the Holiday Season with your Neurodivergent Child

In this episode, Dawn Wisniewski, a board-certified behavior analyst, shares practical strategies for helping children with sensory sensitivities thrive during the holidays. From navigating bright lights and loud music to managing disruptions in routine, Don provides insights on:

• Preparing children for new sensory experiences with proactive planning.
• Handling travel challenges and creating a “magic bag” for comfort.
• Supporting children during gift-giving and social interactions.
• Empowering parents and caregivers with self-care tips to reduce stress.

Whether you're a parent, caregiver, or educator, this episode is packed with tips to make the holiday season more joyful and less overwhelming for everyone.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:45) introducing Dawn Wisniewski

(04:00) New sensory experiences

(08:15) Navigating the disruption to routine

(12:12) Preparing for travel

(17:10) Preparing for gift giving and receiving

(20:20) Stress management for caregivers

(23:40) Preparing for new foods

Join us every month for a new episode of Helping Families Go Beyond. Visit beyondthespectrum.org for more information.