Tips for a Sensory Friendly Thanksgiving​

Thanksgiving is a popular time for extended family and friends to get together and share a meal. Unfortunately, it can be disastrous for children with sensory issues and/or feeding issues. Here are some tips to make Thanksgiving a little less stressful for you and your sensory child.
 

​Exercise! 

Getting physical activity helps us all improve our coping and can help us be more tolerant and flexible. It can also help stimulate our appetite and help our body and brain focus to sit for eating. 

Prior to the big meal get out for some exercise; such as a hike, walk, Yoga, bike ride or play at park. 

Take a break! 

If you are eating with a large family or friend group, make sure to schedule some breaks from the crowd. Some children can be sensitive to larger groups and small spaces. It may not seem loud, but the hum of a busy room can be overstimulating. 

Plan ahead and think of a quiet area or activity for some down time to for your child to recharge. You can also use headphones (noise cancelling or just regular music headphones) to help reduce auditory stimulation. 

Photo by Jordan Rowland on Unsplash

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Be flexible! 

Sometimes there are a lot of new and unfamiliar foods on the table for this meal. That can be overwhelming and be enough to cause a picky eater to shut down. 

Let your child have at least one of their preferred foods as part of your Thanksgiving meal. You may want to try serving the meal family style, allowing your child a sense of control about how much and which foods they put on their plate. They may even be more willing to accept a new food on their plate and possibly even taste it!

Let it go! 

Family holiday gatherings can be a great opportunity to see friends and family members. Sometimes a well-meaning loved one can be a fountain of unsolicited advice on how to get a child to eat or behave. 

Just remember that you are an expert on your child and that you are doing the best you can, and that is what is most important.