While many people get super excited with the first snow fall as it means the holidays are coming, for others, it is the beginning of a very overwhelming time of year. When we think about the holidays, we think of yummy food and drinks, catching up with family and friends, exchanging gifts, playing in the snow and many other amazing traditions.

However, for individuals with SPD, these rituals and customs can be daunting and sometimes even disastrous. These events occur infrequently(this is the only time of year that they occur), usually involve a large number of people and specific expectations for behaviour and are emotionally intense for all. Parents with children with SPD problems come to dread these occasions.

Let’s break it down by exploring what a holiday day is like for “Jenny”:

First, Jenny wakes up and immediately notice the different smells of the food cooking, while pleasing to some, it can be overwhelming for sensitive noses. While her parents are busy prepping for these events, her normal routine gets tossed out the window and she need her daily routine to function at her best. She is now left to her own devices. While it may be great for some to sit and watch tv or play on an iPad in pj’s for long time periods, it isn’t’ great for Jenny. It also implies that the daily sensory input she normally receives (which then organizes her for the day) is being discounted.As time moves along, her parents start rushing and needing everyone to look nice. When clothing is an issue, being told she is not allowed to wear her favourite sweats as “today is a day to be dressed nice”, is like torture for Jenny, whose day already go off to a rough start. The feel of the stiff clothing and scratchy crinoline drives the now already disorganized and dysregulated Jenny up the wall.The family now travels to a home of a relative (that they don’t know well) and are greeted at the door with expectations of hugs and kisses. Jenny notices immediately the overwhelming scent of perfume wafting off her aunt. When Jenny states she doesn’t want to give a hug or receive a kiss, she is viewed as being rude. So instead her uncle reaches down and ruffles her hair – ‘cause that’s better! ?Cousins are arriving and the noise level increases, the kids all start running around and exploring the house, looking for toys and “kid food.” A game of tag has started, and due to Jenny’s levels of dysregulation, she pushes too hard and knocks her little cousin over. He starts crying saying she hit him, when she in fact just tagged him. Jenny’s parents come into the room and get upset with her, stating “You should know better” and “Don’t be so rough with others and keep your hands to yourself.”Jenny is upset for getting into trouble when she didn’t do anything wrong, so she starts jumping on the couch. She knows that jumping feels good for her body and has been told to use her “tools” to help keep her regulated (her OT told her that). She’s jumping and starting to feel her body start to calm down when her aunt walks into the room and LOSES it on her for jumping on the furniture. Jenny tries to explain what she’s doing but gets told “not to talk back.”Jenny hears her aunt out in the hall asking her parents…”What is wrong with her?” By the end of the evening, Jenny has had to manage all the noise, tolerate foods she doesn’t like to eat, being pushed around by cousins and then being told she can’t do the things that she knows will calm her down. At this point, she can’t focus, and feels out of control. She’s feeling very irritated and uncooperative.On the car ride home, Jenny asks her parents (who are upset with her) “What’s wrong with me? Why doesn’t aunt Patty like me?” At this point, she starts to cry because she’s feeling so yucky.Her dad carries her into her bed and she immediately falls asleep- she’s so tired from the day.

Not only has this day been hard for the child, but also her parents. Judgement from family members who do not understand