Discussing Autism

I have collected a series of articles for you, my readers, on how to survive the holidays with your children.

First, look at yesterday’s review post

Airport and Autism We have traveled several times with AJ and things have always gone smoothly (well, except when he had to potty during landing. That was our fault for not taking him earlier). We took the essentials: the DVD player, his weighted blanket and vest, his favorite toys and fidgets, several snacks and drinks (they allowed the drinks due to allergies), and his sleep medication (we pinpointed travel for night time). Our only issue was a night terror during one flight and because I was holding him (he does not like to be touched) it was not easy to calm him. He did great going through security and was easily calmed in other situations.


Autism and Christmas do Not Mix A fantastic song about autism and Christmas…and how they just don’t mix. This is something we are dealing with right now. We try to minimize everything in our house and in AJ’s life at this time of year, as everything for him is just too overstimulating and he gets out of control. However, because family members don’t see it this way they try to show him everything and give him everything a child should have. This, unfortunately, backfires and ruins everything that we have worked so hard for all week.

Yep…parents just don’t understand.

Sample Holiday letter A great letter addressed to relatives and friends so they can try to understand. However, I wish it would add things like please try to help me by limiting things. “Please take down the singing tree and dancing snowman. I know you love it but I just can’t deal with it. Could you also not turn on the tree lights until after I leave? Or, if you have the Christmas music on can you not turn the TV on as well? I just can’t take it.”

What to Shop For Great tips on what to shop for when looking for toys for kids who have sensory integration problems. It is not a list of toys but tips to follow.

Holiday Tips Practical activities to keep kids active and entertained. However, it does state to reduce the element of surprise. JA has a difficult time if he knows where he is going and what he is doing too much in advance. So, we try to work on only telling him the day of a particular event. We also use PECS words pictures to help him during the day. This helps to eliminate nonsense chatter.

Stocking Stuffers: Just the little things.

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