AST develops two new holiday season tip sheets for families of children with autism

Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST), an agency providing behavior therapy and other autism services throughout Southern California, has developed two new holiday season tip sheets especially for families of children with autism: Stress-Free Holidays and Top Toy Recommendations.

With the winter months just around the corner, many of these families will soon experience an increased level of holiday-related anxiety stemming from more than just the usual demands of shopping, cooking, and decorating.

"The holidays can be stressful for any family, but particularly so for families living with autism," said William Frea, Ph.D., BCBA-D, co-founder and chief clinical officer of AST. "There are unfamiliar social situations, changes in routine, noise, and unstructured time off from school -- all of which can be stressful and over-stimulating for a child on the autism spectrum. Hopefully, these tips offer some practical strategies to lessen children's anxiety and increase everyone's enjoyment of the holidays."

Some suggestions include:

• Decorating the house in gradual stages
• Avoiding crowded malls and last minute shopping
• Waiting until just before the holiday to set out gifts

Another challenge is selecting suitable toys for a child with autism. Dr. Frea has developed a list of popular, developmentally appropriate toys for children up to five years of age, such as:

• Large building blocks
• Electronic learning toys
• Puzzles
• Story books
• Dolls and large action figures

"Parents should remember that every child is unique and responds differently to certain toys, so it is extremely important to check with their child's therapist or teacher for toy recommendations before purchasing," Dr. Frea advised.

Dr. Frea's complete list of suggestions for reducing holiday stress and his top toy recommendations can be found on the AST website https://autismtherapies.com/.