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Autism and Christmas – Teachers are you ready?

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 12:00:00 Z

In this guest blog, our friend and resident ASC expert, Lynn McCann, founder of Reachout ASC, shares her hints and tips for supporting students on the autistic spectrum throughout the festive season.

Ok teachers this is THE half term when I get so many more emails about autistic pupils in school and their behaviour. I wanted to warn you all and help you get ready, but not for the challenging behaviour, no, it’s supporting your autistic pupils at this time of year that I want to help you with so that the chances of their behaviour changing is lessened.

Of course, the culprit, the trigger for behaviour at this time of year is most likely to be Christmas, not Christmas itself, but the way we DO Christmas.

This is what happens in most primary schools…

When we are talking about behaviour changes please remember that not all autistic pupils will have challenging behaviours when they are overwhelmed – they may just as easily have withdrawn behaviour and become very quiet or unusually tired all the time. Please watch out for the particular signs of stress in the child you teach.

THE SCHOOL NATIVITY OR PLAY

Have you started this yet? In the next few weeks; schools will be starting to introduce and practice for whatever Christmas play or carol service they put on. The usual routine will begin to change as practices take the place of PE (we’ve got the hall booked anyway) and other lessons. Singing, performing, dressing up, CHANGE can all be overwhelming for an autistic child. But by far the most unsettling thing or many of them is the constant, unpredictable changes to the timetable. A spontaneous play practice might be exciting for many of the class but for an autistic child it can be a nightmare.

What to do:

Write a social story about what the play is about, why you are doing it and what their part in it is.
Make sure that you have a ‘play practice’ symbol on their visual timetable.
Speak to parents about how they help their child cope with Christmas and what tips they may have for supporting and/or involving their child.
If they cannot cope with lots of sitting around and waiting as the play is practiced, then provide a box of activities that are linked to their special interests and let them take it into the hall to play with in a quiet corner.
Do what you can to help them be able to take part, then always prepare them for anything new. Show them costumes beforehand and allow them time to get used to each different thing.
Find any way possible for the child to be part of it. They could have a role they choose themselves, or be in charge of prompting other actors, a role in arranging the music or managing the CD player, be the one who sorts out and gives out costumes, in charge of lighting, or sitting somewhere comfortable, doing something they feel comfortable with, but is included in the performance. One child who loved dancing was given the role of the star and danced across the stage to her favourite music as the Wise Men followed.
Be realistic about evening performances and don’t insist the autistic child should come if it is too much for them. Try to make sure parents have one successful performance to attend than two or more stressful ones.

A word about parents:

Parents have told me how heart-breaking it is to be told that their child can’t do the Christmas play. It’s usually said in a way that makes it sound like it would be too much for the child. But if we could just make some accommodations, then the majority of autistic children can be included. I can’t tell you how much this would mean to parents. And make sure the child is named on the programme and is photographed with the whole class.

And be extra nice in saving the child’s parents a seat at the performance. Ask them where they’d like to sit and make them feel it’s an honour to have them there. You will do something so small to you but so huge to parents that they will never forget your kindness.

THE DECORATIONS

You might think it’s exciting for all the children when you stay late at school one Friday night to put up all the hand-made decorations the children have been making for weeks so that you can hear their gasps of amazement when they walk through the doors on the Monday morning. But for an autistic child, you will have completely and unexpectedly changed their whole environment and that will cause them a great shock and anxiety. I have known many autistic children flatly refuse to go into school because the decorations were put up suddenly, or there was a Christmas tree by the door they go into school, and others who have had meltdowns because they cannot cope with the sensory overload.

What to do:

Write a social story to explain why we make and display decorations at Christmas.
Cut down on the amount of decorations you make. You really don’t have to do all of them. Try to keep the classroom tidy.
Involve the autistic child in deciding where the decorations should go and try to have one or two decoration-free areas they can go to if overwhelmed.
Involve the autistic child in decorating the school Christmas tree and have some say in where it should go.

THE CRAFT

We go craft crazy in Primary schools at Christmas. Glitter comes in huge tubs and boy do we use it liberally! But glue, glitter, many competing textures, shiny paper can be a big sensory distraction or overload for some autistic children which can send them into sensory overload or meltdown. (BTW – I love glitter but I’m really aware of the effect it may have on autistic children).

What to do:

Slow down! It’s better to do one or two things well rather than lots of hurried, half-finished projects that get left around the room in a mess.
Go with what the autistic child is interested in. For example, if they like Lego, let them make a Lego Christmas tree, scene or angel. Take a photo and put that on their Christmas card, calendar and if necessary, even every craft project if that makes it accessible to them.
Don’t insist the autistic child must do the craft. They may need to do something that is connected to their regular routine instead. For example, if it’s usually a maths lesson, let them do maths if that helps them stay calm.

THE CHRISTMAS PARTY

More sensory overload! Different clothes, loud music, unstructured event, everything and everybody looking different. Food, sweets, sometimes an ‘act’ such as a clown. A party can easily be overwhelming for an autistic child. However, it might also be an opportunity for them to relax, not have work demands and share some of their favourite music or dance moves!

What to do:

Write a social story about what will happen at the party and what they can do to prepare for it. Explain that they can wear different clothes to school and that’s ok. Make sure parents have a copy to read at home.
Put the party date and how long it will last on a calendar in the classroom and have one at home too.
Let them choose some music to play, and if they feel more comfortable, give them the job of being DJ.
Make sure there is a quiet space for them to go to if things get too much.
Practice dancing!
Prepare a ‘buddy group’ of friends before the party to support and help the autistic child on the day.
Encourage them to bring a favourite toy to the party as a point of comfort.
Have a sensory area in the party or just outside so they can go to it and have time out whenever they need it. If this means asking a member of staff to keep an eye on them for the party, then arrange that but don’t have them hovering over the child all the time.

FATHER CHRISTMAS/PRESENTS

A strange man, in a strange red suit comes into the room with a big voice calling out “Ho, Ho, Ho!” and then we ask children to go up to him and receive a wrapped up present which they have no idea about what may be inside. Considering your autistic pupil, this may be a terrifying experience for them. They may be ok with it, but understanding how your child may react will be important.

What to do:

Show the pupil pictures of the actual person who is dressing up as Father Christmas in the outfit they will be wearing. Add this to a social story to explain that this person will be bringing a present for all the children.
Some children with autism will need to know what will be in the present and it is ok to tell them. Surprises may not be something they can cope with.
Read the story of St Nicholas to help older children understand why we have Father Christmas.

THE LACK OF NORMAL LESSONS OR ROUTINES

All the things that happen for Christmas are not what we do normally. As the last couple of weeks arrive, everyone is tired, the rest of the children are all excited and the usual routines are often abandoned for play practice, craft or sometimes movies or Christmas colouring sessions. An autistic child may also be tired, overloaded and exhausted through trying to keep up with all the different things that are happening. They may be anxious or over excited about Christmas and be finding it difficult to regulate their emotions and responses.

What to do:

Please don’t abandon their visual timetable. It will be more important than ever to communicate what is happening and when.
Consider having more sensory calming breaks so that the child has chance to ‘chill out’ or regulate the sensory overload.
Have a stack of work they can access that they may prefer to do when others are doing something they find uninteresting or overwhelming.
Have a box of toys, activities and magazines connected to their special interests that they can access during the less structured times.

THE OUTSIDE WORLD

Just be aware that there is no break from the over stimulation that infects our society in the Christmas season. We are all bombarded by lights, decorations, shiny things, noise, constant repetitive Christmas songs and the anticipation. An autistic child that finds this overwhelming is going to show this in their behaviour. Parents are going to be anxious and will have to try to support their child through this the best they can. Please do speak to parents and ask them how they are ‘doing’ their Christmas. Then you won’t assume things when you talk to their child. For example, if they don’t wrap presents because that will freak out their child, then don’t wrap their class present either.

Christmas is really about a little baby that was born to bring hope to the world. No-one was meant to be excluded from that simple message. I hope that in our classrooms we can do all we can to include everyone in what should be a simple and hopeful time of light in the darkest part of the year.

Marry Christmas everyone.

About Lynn McCann

Lynn McCann began working as a mainstream class teacher and was an early years lecturer and SENCO. More recently she has developed over 10 years’ experience in autism education, outreach and training in specialist education settings. She has training and experience in autism theory and research, PECS, Sensory Integration, SCERTS, TEACCH, ASC and Puberty, Social Stories and Forest Schools.

Lynn set up Reachout ASC in January 2014. The team has grown over the years and with a commitment to making sure that autistic people were part of the team and part of their driving force, they now have a team of four specialist teachers, three office staff and an OT/sensory therapist who works with them.

What SEND training do Axcis offer?

Offering our candidates access to CPD courses is very important to us here at Axcis. As such, we continue to expand and adapt our training offerings. Please keep an eye on our website and social media for more information, as well as our CPD Training and Career Development page and Events Diary for upcoming courses and events.

*Please note that courses and resources may be subject to change at any time as the providers add or remove content from their offerings.

Autism & Christmas

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 12:00:00 Z

With Christmas very nearly upon us, many people are enjoying the festivities of the season. But what about if you are a parent or carer of an autistic child? The changes in routine and uncertainty of one day to the next call be very overwhelming for anyone on the autistic spectrum. Our friends at Reachout ASC however have compiled a great course to help!

This course looks at 10 ways that Christmas can be difficult for autistic children. Autistic children are all different, but they can share some difficulties in coping with big changes, especially around Christmas. The course will look at how you can choose the parts of Christmas that can be made accessible and enjoyable for autistic pupils and/or their family members.

What You Will Learn

How schools are planning for Christmas
How to plan for a better Christmas
How can autistic children be involved in plays and concerts
What to do with all the Christmas decorations
How to manage Christmas at home, shopping gifts and presents and Christmas dinner with your autistic child

Any parent/carer or autistic student can access this course and best of all, it’s completely free!

To access the course, please click here.

Thank you to Lynn McCann and the team at Reachout ASC for sharing this wonderful resource which we’re sure will be a great help to many families during the festive season. For more information on Reachout ASC and the great work they do, please click here to visit their website.

Axcis offer an excellent range of continued professional development (CPD) training opportunities so if you are looking for further CPD courses to enhance your skills and knowledge, please visit the Training and Career Development page on the Axcis website. And be sure to check the Events Diary for upcoming courses too!

FREE Festive Season Resources

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 12:00:00 Z

FREE Festive Season Resources

Axcis are thrilled to offer these free printable Christmas worksheets to use with your school, setting or at home. In this pack, we include a festive wordsearch, crossword, maze and maths challenge. Download yours today!

Our FREE printable Christmas worksheets are listed below – simply click on the one(s) you are interested in and they should open ready to print and use with your children at home or school. Alternatively, feel free to email us and we can send you a copy.

Christmas Wordsearch

Christmas Crossword

Amazing Maze

Andy’s Christmas Maths Challenge

If you have any other festive resources or ideas you want to share then please feel free to email us your suggestions, leave a comment below, or simply just @ us across all of our social platforms!

Happy Holidays everyone!!

Planning for an autism friendly Christmas (guest post)

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 13:56:34 +0100

Sue Goldman is an autism education specialist offering support, advice and teaching to autistic children, their families and educational settings. She has kindly written us this guest post about planning for an autism friendly Christmas.

Music, glitter, festive foods, surprises, colour, presents, lights, concerts, people… and more people!

There is so much to love about Christmas time but also so much to challenge our autistic pupils. As timetables and routines are thrown to the wind, many of us relish the freedom and unpredictability of the festive season but, for autistic children, the loss of safe structure can feel confusing and worrying. There is concern about what lies beneath wrapping paper, the profusion of visual and auditory stimuli can feel overwhelming, the constant stream of people in both public and private spaces can just be too much – and this can lead to stress, meltdowns and shutdowns.

However, I bring good tidings…!

There is much that we can do to support our pupils through this very special time of year, helping them to enjoy the wonderful stuff whilst minimising the tricky bits.

Know your students

Preparation and planning are key elements of a successful autism-friendly Christmas. Keep up the visual timetables, giving the right amount of advance warning for your particular pupil. Some will need more preparation time, some will find waiting hard to handle. As always, be guided by your knowledge and understanding of the individual you are working with.

Surprises?

Surprises are generally quite hard for an autistic child to cope with. Involve them in decision-making and be creative when thinking about how to help them to enjoy the surprise elements of Christmas. For example, you could wrap presents in cellophane, which preserves the excitement of unwrapping while reducing uncertainty. If the class is having a party, try asking your autistic pupil to help you to set it up while the room is quiet. It can be much easier to be part of creating the transition to a party room than to enter a room that is so different to normal.

Food

Food issues are magnified around Christmas, both for children who love food and for those who have very selective diets. In general, it’s a good idea to stick to familiar mealtimes, foods and routines as much as possible, whilst also offering opportunities to step out of comfort zones in a safe way. New foods can be introduced through play, which offers a low-anxiety strategy for helping pupils to become familiar with unusual smells, tastes and textures. Cinnamon play dough anyone?

Plays, concerts and all that jazz!

Practise, practise and practise again! Autistic pupils can and should have the opportunity to be part of Christmas celebrations, including plays and concerts, but you will need to think about how to fit their role to their abilities and preferences. They may need more opportunities to practise than other children, maybe starting with a trusted adult, then building up to a small group, then to a bigger group and finally to the full group with an audience. Don’t underestimate how much courage and energy this can take for them, but don’t deny them the chance. They may surprise you! The behaviours that we expect at Christmas (for example, decorating a tree or giving presents) can also be practised through fun, structured turn-taking games – adapt the words of a simple tune to create a clear beginning, middle and end to the game, make or find some appealing props and off you go…!

Play to their strengths

Play to their strengths. Autistic pupils are unique, complex and hugely rewarding to work with. When you discover what they like and are good at, they will often bring exceptional commitment, focus and talent to the activity or task, and there is no joy as deep as autistic joy! So harness their autistic superpowers! Your Christmas will be better as a result.

Remember to relax!

Remember the importance of rest and relaxation! Christmas is an all-singing, all-dancing, bells-and-whistles-on sensory smorgasbord, which can just be too much. Encourage breaks during which your autistic pupils can do whatever they need to do to help themselves to stay calm and well-regulated. Provide quiet spaces or access to outdoors to give decompression time and let them know that you will be responsive to them when they communicate – through words or through actions – that they have had enough.

Halloween activities for children with autism (Guest post)

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0100

As proud sponsors of the National Autistic Society, we are pleased to bring you these fantastic ideas for Halloween activities for children on the autism spectrum. These brilliant ideas come courtesy of Corinna Laurie, Lead Occupational Therapist and Emily Trapp, Specialist Speech and Language Therapist from Helen Allison School.

Occupational Therapy Ideas

Face Painting, loud noises, scary characters and scratchy costumes aren’t for everyone, and can be especially unpleasant for children with autism. Here are some ideas for Halloween activities that are enjoyable for everyone.

T-Shirt decorating: Many children with autism have sensory sensitivities around clothing. Halloween costumes can be scratchy and overwhelming. As a class project why not decorate a comfy T-shirt with a Halloween theme. They are then still being festive, without being uncomfortable.

Pumpkin carving: A great Halloween activity but some children with autism may find the mess very “uncomfortable”. Allow students to wear plastic gloves when scooping. Light up with battery candles for a visual delight! Use the innards as a sensory goo bag by placing it in a zip lock bag and letting kids squash away!

Dancing worms: Mix together baking soda, vinegar and warm water and add jellied sweet worms. Watch them dance and swirl around

Party time!

Hold a Halloween party for school friends. Many Children will find trick or treating to daunting and so a class party will offer another opportunity to celebrate. In preparation students could bake and decorate cakes, make and distribute invitations, think of games to play e.g.

Mystery box

Halloween game – fill bowls with noodles, jelly, cooked pasta etc. and see who guesses the most correct. If students have sensitivity to certain textures use dry pasta, animal shapes (bats and rats!), real objects (fangs and skulls!) etc.

Frankenstein/Ghost Bowling (helps with co-ordination)

Paint faces/put eyes on cans/toilet rolls, and then stack the scary (okay, more like cute) dudes to see how many you knock down in one shot.

Spider Races (blowing is calming)

All you need for this game is some straws and plastic toy spiders — whichever kid blows their spider across the finish line first wins.

Speech and Language Therapy Ideas

Scary pumpkins/ghosts

Targets: Following instructions/ attention and listening skills/ giving instructions

Give each pupil a body template (e.g. in the form of a pumpkin or ghost). Have several versions of different features e.g. sharp teeth, gold teeth, long teeth. Give pupils instructions for what they should add and see if they can follow the instructions accurately. Reverse roles and see if they can give you instructions. Can they spot your funny mistakes you make?

Costumes

Targets: Understanding and expressing adjectives

Take a picture of pupils in their fancy dress outfits, or use a picture of a scary character. Annotate the picture with lots of describing words. Or write them on post it notes and stick them on the outfits.

Slime

Targets: Joint attention, following instructions, vocabulary

Make slime together. Explore it together and talk about how it feels and looks e.g. wet, squidgy. For more able pupils they could follow the instructions on how to make it.

Halloween jokes

Targets: Non-literal comprehension (double meanings), interacting with peers

Find some suitable Halloween jokes for your class and explore them further before asking the group to adapt them or come up with their own.

Halloween Bingo

Targets: Vocabulary, attention and listening skills

Substitute a traditional bingo card with a Halloween themed one and get the class involved in this fantastic and fun Halloween activity.

Visual supports – anxieties and stranger awareness

Targets: Anxiety

For pupils who are anxious about costumes etc- visually explore the fact that there are familiar people underneath. Use symbols and pictures to demonstrate this point or any other fears.

Explore the importance of stranger danger e.g. people will knock on the door in outfits, don’t knock on stranger’s doors without a parent etc

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