Holidays can involve changes in routine, gatherings with lots of people, or traveling to unknown places; any of which can be a bit stressful for our family members with ASD. We have compiled some ideas and resources that we hope will help make your Thanksgiving holiday run as smoothly as possible!

Social Stories

Social stories are a great way to help prepare individuals with ASD for an upcoming event that they may not be familiar with. Social stories are brief descriptions about what to expect in any situation, event, or activity. Below is an example of a social story for Thanksgiving.

For more information on social stories and how to write them, click here !

Call in advance 

Another way to plan a head is to call and talk with whomever is hosting the Thanksgiving celebration. Be open with family members when discussing what environment will be best for your child. If you are unfamiliar with the place that you are going to visit before the holiday, if possible! Find a room or place that would be good for you and your child to feel safe. If you can’t visit before then be sure to mention the need for a secluded space when you speak to the host a head of time.

 Identify Food Options

If you have a picky eater at home, it is also a good idea to discuss, or show your child with PECS, what kind of food will be served at Thanksgiving dinner. Here are some PECS of typical thanksgiving food! If the options at Grandma’s house are not going to work, be sure to bring some food options of your own!

Take Breaks

Sometimes we just need to take a break from what is going on around us. If you or your child are getting overstimulated and need to take some time to yourselves make sure you do so! Bring a long some favorite games, or even a Thanksgiving themed book! (One of our favorites is There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey !)

We hope these ideas and resources are helpful while preparing for the holiday next week! Thank you for reading!

Emily Knezz, Toneworks Music Therapy Intern