Making the Holidays
Less Stressful
Many children with disabilities such as
Autism and other related sensory processing
disorders, experience holidays differently. They
can be overstimulated with large numbers of
people, overwhelmed with decorations and commotion,
and experience fight or flight moments.
Children are often on gluten and casein free
diets, or have other food allergies, and cannot
eat common foods experienced on Thanksgiving,
Christmas and Hanukkah. These things can
create many challenges for families.
Sensory issues affect one out of five children
in the United States today. Thanksgiving,
Christmas and Hanukkah often bring large
groups of families together. Children can experience
fears that they themselves don’t understand.
There are things you can do to help your child
and others with sensory issues for Thanksgiving,
Christmas and Hanukkah:
• Practice opening gifts and saying thank you
• Let kids know it is okay to feel nervous and
scared
• Create a photo album of family members the
kids will be seeing during the holiday
• Use a calendar to reference how long until the
holiday arrives
• Create a visual schedule for the holiday’s events
• Create a visual story and read it through in the
weeks leading up to the holiday
• Know your child’s limits and when they are
becoming stressed out and overwhelmed.
• Use noise cancelling headphones and bring a
flashlight to evening events
• If traveling, make a busy bag of activities
The holidays can be fun for everyone. It is up
to you and the child on how to best meet their
needs. Follow your child’s lead, read their cues.
MOSI is holding a sensory friendly event
on Saturday, December 7th, from 8am to
10am with holiday crafts and hands on fun.
Join MOSI as we offer a special event for families
and children with sensory differences to get
into the Holiday spirit throughout the Museum.
MOSI will set up in a low stress environment of
lights and sounds.
Don’t miss the Day of Discovery events for
Autism Awareness Month in April 2020!
April 4th, 8-10am: Experience MOSI as we
offer our venue to those families with sensory
differences and other disabilities with unique
enrichment craft projects, building activities and
lights and sounds to provide a calm environment.
Your admission ticket enables you to stay
for all guests’ MOSI operating hours, starting
at 10am. CARD provided Distract-Packs are
available at Guest Services. This event is FREE
for MOSI Members. Non-Members are only $5
if purchased before event date and $8 on day of
event. Parking is FREE.
April 11th, 8-9:30am: Experience The Florida
Aquarium, offering unique programming,
animal encounters and animal enrichment craft
projects, with lights and sounds adapted for
individuals with sensory differences and their
families. Your admission ticket enables you
to stay for regular Aquarium operating hours,
starting at 9:30am. Headphones are available at
Guest Services. FREE for Aquarium Members.
Non-Members are only $5 if purchased before
event date and $8 on day of event. Parking is $6
per car in Aquarium parking lot.
April 27th, 8-9:30am: ZooTampa at Lowry Park
welcomes individuals with autism, their families,
and others who may benefit from a sensoryfriendly
experience. Download social stories
and parent tips prior to the event on ZooTampa
at Lowry Park or CARD website. Lights and
sounds are adapted for individuals with sensory
differences and their families. Sensory Day of
Discovery ends at 9:30am and the Zoo opens for
normal business hours, participants are welcome
to continue exploring.
To find out more about MOSI and their
inclusion efforts, go to MOSI.org or call
813-987-6000.
10 www.BrightFeats.com
/MOSI.org
/www.BrightFeats.com
