All Is Not Calm, But All Is Bright

Happy little boy at Christmas with a Santa hat on holding candy canes

I saw this quote on a Christmas card sent to me from a family I work with and boy did it stick with me.

The holidays are challenging enough for adults to process through. Add on a child who is out of routine, dealing with the unknown, bombarded by sensory experiences, but expected to be calm.

Do you ever wonder why your child acts up during the holidays?

Does your child turn into The Grinch during the holidays… causing havoc everywhere they step? For most, being out of a routine is challenging, which is usually what occurs during the holiday season. School is out, there is a lack of structure, meal times aren’t a frequent, sugar is consumed more and there are many new experiences occurring.

Despite this being typical for most, there are some children who just aren’t able to process the out-of-sync feeling as well.

Now no judgement to you parents! You have a lot going on too. Preparing for the holidays is overwhelming. I want to encourage you to read these next top tips, and see how you can implement them to support your entire family.

Top suggestions for a calm & bright holiday.

1 – Flexibility is key

It is important to understand that the plans you have in your head for your child… might be too much for them. Understanding their limits, their trigger/challenges, and how far past their threshold they can go is key. You might have to leave an event early.

You might have to say no to multiple events in one day. Too many unknowns in a week might cause your child to become upset, or overwhelmed. The changes in their environment and how it could bombard their sensory system should be at the forefront of awareness for a family.

2 – Maintain a schedule

Keeping a schedule, or a simple routine can help your child immensely to have the capacity to adapt to events or other changes in the schedule. Making sure they have enough rest before, and after events will allow their systems to reset. Eating meals around the typical times, and making sure there is enough filling food on their plates. All of this will allow them to accept changes in their routine with more ease.

3 – Build in an exit strategy

During events if you are seeing the beginning signs of overwhelm, it might be time to say your goodbyes. Making sure you and your family knows what signs to look for. You can have a keyword that your family knows it is time to pack up, and fast.

4 – Prep your child

Most children will be more calm if you provide then with the expectations. Have a chat with your child about the events leading up to the large event, activities happening during the event, and even if there are specific expectations for them during the event would be best.

Imagine if you got invited to a party, but wasn’t sure what type of party. It could be a birthday party, a Halloween party, or even a wedding. You wouldn’t know what to wear, what to bring, how long the event would last for or what was expected from you. This is how your child feels.

5 – Encourage calming activities

I’ll always encourage calming strategies leading up to, during, and after events. It can take no more than 5 minutes out of your schedule, but have such a positive impact on the outcome of attending large events. Knowing which strategies work for your child is key.

I always suggest a big movement action, paired with a small focused one. Thing like animal walks, jumping games, or crashing activities are are large movements that provide calming input into the whole body. Small focused movements like blowing out pretend candles, blowing bubbles, or different finger movements for focused attention are great to re-center.

I hope these strategies provide you and your family with some relief to enter into some large holiday events with some peace of mind. If you are finding these events, or even smaller ones, to be more and more challenging and you aren’t sure how to help your child reach out! I loved to find out if more individualized suggestions might be needed.

Samantha Stiles, MS, OTR/L 

CEO, Occupational Therapist

As a pediatric therapist I know what it takes to really address feeding, sensory, and emotional challenges in children. I’m talking the kind of exponential growth that changes the course of lives. But this type of transformation requires time, parent involvement, and extra guidance.

When parents arrive inside the world of Empower Kids Therapy, they find a fresh spark of hope, a different way of thinking, and a sense of being understood.

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Ms.Sam - Pediatric Occupational Therapist

In-home occupational therapy services focused on sensory processing, feeding & infant development
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Every sensory-friendly princess needs comfort before sparkle. 👑💗

Our Disneybound costumes skip the scratchy fabrics and tight seams, no face paint, no heavy layers. Just soft, breathable pieces that move with your child, not against them.

Each outfit includes interchangeable accessories and a plush friend for comfort (because sometimes a familiar texture is all it takes to feel brave in a crowd). 🌸

For sensory kids, comfort is confidence.
When the outfit feels safe, the world feels a little more magical, and that’s when they can truly shine. 🌷🏰

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Halloween magic starts with comfort and confidence 👻✨

From choosing soft fabrics to practicing trick-or-treat runs, these small steps make a big difference for sensory-friendly celebrations.

Save this post for later, and stay tuned for part two, we’ll be sharing even more tips to help your little one enjoy every spooky moment! 🎃💛

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Not every Halloween has to look the same 🎃

For some kids, peace and comfort are worth far more than a full candy bucket.

If your child needs a quiet night in instead of a crowded night out, that’s okay!! You’re honoring their needs, not holding them back. 💛

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Halloween doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing, it can be practiced, adapted, and softened. 🍂

If your sensory child feels anxious about trick-or-treating, start at home.

Let them rehearse the steps, explore textures, and feel safe in their costume first.

That practice becomes progress, and that progress becomes confidence.

In-home OT builds those same skills every week: regulation, routine, and readiness for new experiences.

Because sometimes, the real magic of Halloween starts in your living room. 🎃💛

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