‘Tis the Season’ How Do Parents Cope and What Can You Do to Help Your Child?

It’s that time of year again when we celebrate several holidays, some of which have long breaks from school for our children (Thanksgiving and Christmas). Their daily routines will be very different than their scheduled day in school. Foods that they eat, holiday/party clothes, and Christmas decorations (including a visit to Santa), just to name a few, could bring about anxiety, stress, and/or meltdowns because these aren’t “normal” for our children, let alone for our children with disabilities. How do parents cope and what can you do to help your child?

Your family can still enjoy the holidays, just in different ways (as I am sure you have learned). Involve your children in the decisions of what activity/ event to attend …. have your child(ren) make the decorations for the house and table; your child(ren) can help with baking or cooking. These are little things that parents can do, too, but they still involve your child(ren) in the holiday and on a level they can handle. Our children beam when parents say that “Sara helped make the chocolate chip cookies” or that “Zack made each of the place cards for the dinner table!” You are building unforgettable memories with your children and those moments are irreplaceable!

You can also help them with their IEP goals during these times. Read the goals and benchmarks listed and adapt and tweak them to what you are doing over the holidays. This is the time you can and should think outside the box! If your child is working on reading, grab a book from the library or one your child picked out from the store and read it together. Since you are making memories, you don’t “have” to do it a certain way like you would for school. You can read two pages while your child reads one. You are still reading and practicing/ reinforcing to that goal.

If your child struggles with math, have your child read the recipe and then help you to measure out the ingredients. Ask your child what the amounts would be if you doubled the recipe. Pull out manipulatives if that helps, these could be Cheerios or the chocolate chips that are using for the recipe. Taste the goodies you are adding to the recipe and have fun with your child. Yes, this can be tricky with your child’s sensory issues, but again, think outside the box.

When we were homeschooling, we studied the different names for Santa Claus, the country, and the traditions surrounding Christmas. Then, we plotted the countries and names on the map. It’s a neat way to study different traditions; we made memories and still learned, just in a different way. There is no “right” way when you and your child are experiencing and learning while in a non-traditional way.

When your child returns to school, that will be the “test” – to see if he/she regressed. This can be tricky. If your child has “lost” what information/strategies that he/she was working on prior to the holiday time off, that could “show” the school, and ultimately the IEP Team, that your child may need ESY (Extended School Year). You will want to keep an eye on your child’s progress reported as they continue working toward mastery of each of the goals in the IEP.

In the meantime, enjoy your child and the holidays! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Doreen Franklin is a Special Education Consultant & Private Tutor. She assists families with children with special needs with their IEPs. Doreen & her husband adopted two daughters; both are special needs. Doreen homeschooled their older daughter and tutors children privately.

Helpful Articles

• How to Set Clear Goals and Plan Naturally
• Is Esy (Extended School Year) for My Child?
• IEP Prep: Using the Mama Bear Strategy
• Is Summer Break Really a Vacation?
• IEP Goals and Your Child’s Future
• Three Tips for Highlighting and Color-Coding Your Child’s Draft Iep
• The IEP Is Written… Now What Do I Do?
• Should My Child Attend the IEP Meeting?
• How Can Parents Prepare for an Iep Meeting? (Part 1)
• The Politics of Special Education: The Information You Need Right Now
• Whether it’s Your First IEP or You’re a Pro: 10 things to Cover at the Meeting
• Is It PLEP Or PLOP? for Present Level of Performance
• Is the IEP Individualized or Cookie-Cutter?

This post originally appeared on our November/December 2017 Magazine