Designing Your Ideal Holidays: A Family Guide to Navigating and Prioritizing Traditions for Children with Autism
A Message From Dr. Autumn Flick
💛 As a parent, you may often find yourself juggling countless expectations from family, friends, and the broader community regarding holiday celebrations, family gatherings, and traditions. At times, it can feel overwhelming trying to meet these expectations while also managing the unique needs of your family. I want to remind you that it’s okay to step back, breathe, and make choices that prioritize what is truly meaningful for your family.
✨ At Orchid Academy, we understand that not every event or tradition will resonate with every family. It’s perfectly fine to bow out of certain celebrations or gatherings that feel too overwhelming. Sometimes, your time and energy are better spent preparing for the holidays or traditions that matter most to your family—whether that means hosting a quiet Thanksgiving at home or putting more effort into celebrating a cultural or religious event that truly speaks to you 🌸.
🌟 Our goal at Orchid is to help your child and your family prepare for every eventuality—whether it’s attending weddings 💍, traveling by airplane ✈️, or navigating community gatherings 🎉. But we also want to empower you with tools like this one to guide your family through important conversations about prioritizing what matters. The traditions and events you choose to focus on should reflect your values, your needs, and the experiences that bring you joy and fulfillment 🌈.
We hope this tool helps you create intentional, meaningful celebrations and routines that align with your family’s unique journey 🌟.
Family Traditions and Holiday Planning Checklist
Step 1: Identify Holidays and Events
Take a moment to list the holidays, events, and family traditions that you celebrate or that are meaningful to you.
Step 2: Discuss Traditions and Routines
For each holiday or event you’ve listed as important, consider the following:
Do you celebrate this with extended family, friends, or at home? 🏡
Are there any family traditions tied to this holiday or event? 🎈
Does this holiday involve travel? If so, is it necessary or optional? ✈️
Step 3: Prioritize Your Top Events
Once you've filled out the chart, discuss the following questions:
Which holidays or events are most important for us to celebrate every year? 🎊
Are there any holidays that feel less meaningful or could be celebrated differently? 🤔
How do we want to balance celebrations with extended family vs. at home? 🏡
Which holidays are we willing to travel for, and which ones could we stay home for? 🚗
Are there any new traditions or holidays we’d like to introduce? ✨
Step 4: Rank and Plan
Now, rank your top 5 most important holidays or events:
Step 5: Finalize Your Plan
Create a schedule or a tradition that reflects the priorities discussed 🗓️.
Decide where and how each holiday will be celebrated and with whom 🎉.
Plan ahead for any travel and budget needs for the year based on these decisions 💼.
Preparing Your Child for Meaningful Routines and Traditions
When planning for significant holidays, events, or routines, it’s essential to consider the amount of time your child may need to feel comfortable and confident. Some traditions require days or even weeks of preparation, while others might just need a few key practice sessions. Reflecting on this can help you set realistic goals and expectations for your family’s experiences.
1. How Long Will Preparation Take?
Ask yourself these key questions for each holiday or event:
🗓️ What is the date of the event?
🕰️ How many weeks or months ahead should we start preparing?
🎯 What specific skills or behaviors do we want to focus on for this event?
Draft key preparation timelines for each event, including:
Event/Tradition 📝
Target Date 📅
When to Start Preparing ⏳
Key Skills to Practice 🎯
2. Top Wishes for Your Child’s Level of Interaction
Consider what meaningful participation looks like for your child in these events. If there are three things you wish your child would engage in, think about what would bring the most joy and success to your family.
For example:
Participating in opening gifts 🎁
Sitting at the table for a holiday meal 🍽️
Engaging in a simple greeting ritual with family members 👋
List Your Top Wishes:
3. Presenting Your Wishes to Your ABA Team
Once you have a clear idea of your child’s desired interactions, share this list with your ABA team. By collaborating, you can work together to create goals and benchmarks that help your child reach their full potential in these settings.
Share the event timeline and key skills you’d like to focus on.
Discuss how to measure progress and what benchmarks to set along the way.
Keep track of victories, big and small, and celebrate your child’s progress! 🎉
By planning and communicating openly with your ABA team, you can help make holidays and traditions a more enjoyable and meaningful experience for everyone in your family.
