The festive season is often a time of joy, togetherness, and celebration. However, for children with sensory sensitivities, this time of year can feel overwhelming.
The lights, sounds, crowds, and constant changes in routine can quickly become overstimulating, making it challenging for these children to enjoy the holidays. This is where play therapy can play a pivotal role, offering a safe space and practical support to help children navigate the sensory overload of the festive season.
Understanding Sensory Sensitivities
Sensory sensitivities occur when a child’s nervous system is either over-responsive or under-responsive to sensory stimuli. For some children, bright holiday lights can be too glaring, festive music too loud, and unfamiliar holiday scents too overpowering. These heightened reactions can lead to meltdowns, anxiety, or withdrawal, impacting not only the child’s experience but the entire family dynamic during this busy season.
How Play Therapy Provides a Safe Space
Play therapy offers a sanctuary where children can explore their feelings and experiences in a controlled, non-judgmental environment.
Here’s how it helps children with sensory sensitivities:
Building Emotional Resilience: Play therapy equips children with tools to recognize and manage their emotions. Through guided play, they can learn strategies to cope with overwhelming stimuli, such as deep breathing or self-regulation techniques.
Sensory Exploration: Play therapy often incorporates sensory activities, such as working with sand trays, clay, or water. These activities provide a safe and structured way for children to engage with sensory inputs, helping them build tolerance and confidence in handling new or challenging environments.
Predictability and Control: In a world that can feel chaotic, play therapy provides a sense of stability. The therapy sessions are structured and predictable, giving children a break from the unpredictability of holiday events and an opportunity to feel in control.
Processing Overwhelm: The holiday season can bring up feelings of frustration, fear, or sadness for sensory-sensitive children. Through play, therapists can help children express and process these emotions, reducing their emotional burden and helping them feel understood.
Supporting Families During the Holidays
Play therapy doesn’t just benefit children—it also supports parents in understanding their child’s sensory needs. Therapists can guide parents in creating sensory-friendly holiday environments, such as:
Dimming holiday lights or using soft, warm tones.
Allowing noise-canceling headphones or creating quiet spaces for breaks during gatherings.
Keeping routines as consistent as possible to provide a sense of security.
Preparing the child in advance for upcoming holiday activities to reduce surprises.
The festive season doesn’t have to be overwhelming for children with sensory sensitivities. With the help of play therapy, children can develop the tools and confidence they need to navigate this bustling time of year while still finding moments of joy and connection. For parents, the insights gained through play therapy can make the season more manageable and enjoyable for the entire family.
If your child struggles with sensory sensitivities and the holiday season feels daunting, consider exploring play therapy. It could be the supportive space your child needs to thrive during this magical, yet sometimes challenging, time of year.
Do you think your Teen or Child could benefit from therapy? Speak to a qualified Play therapist to learn how your Teen or Child could benefit from play therapy, Click here to get in touch today, or if you want to know if Play Therapy could be suitable for your Teen or Child, click here to take our quiz!
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