Have yourself a merry, inclusive Christmas 

Holly Karten, whose daughter has disability, shares her tips for how to make your Christmas event meet a variety of sensory needs.

Image: Holly Karten and her family.

As a culture, we’ve gotten pretty good at catering for various dietary needs. However, we don’t tend to place the same emphasis on considering the sensory needs of our loved ones. By taking the time to consider this important element of the day, you'll ensure that time together as a family can truly be enjoyed by all. Here’s how:

1. Be upfront, curious, and specific 

Just like catering for food allergies, catering for sensory needs requires knowing what’s likely to cause an adverse reaction. Asking people privately, directly, ahead of time is the best way to find out what you can do to make the environment more comfortable for them. Asking via text or email is possibly even better as you don’t risk putting people on the spot and allow them time to consider how best to explain things to you. 

You can find a free, editable and printable Canva template file online to gain specific insight into what your guests might need.

The following points are some good things to keep in mind while you’re waiting for specific responses to return.

2. Zone!

Your event is about more than just the dining table. When considering the guest experience you need to think about the event from arrival to exit. By creating a few different areas, even just by rearranging the furniture in a single room, you can offer zones that allow for different levels of sensory input.

For example, is there somewhere quiet that people can safely access if they need to take a break? This doesn’t have to be a whole new room, it could be as simple as creating a pillow fort under a table or in the corner of the room so that there’s somewhere to retreat to when needed. 

Is there somewhere for those who need to move to get their tension out? A trampoline, swing, or access to an outdoor area is a great option for those who find being confined to the house restrictive. Inside alternatives might include a wobble board, game of twister, or a big pile of pillows to crash into. 

Make the purpose for zones clear. Don’t assume everyone knows the “rules”. If there are areas of your home that you don’t want guests to go into, be explicit. This isn’t rude, it’s levelling the playing field so that you aren’t expecting people to just know that your master bedroom is off-limits.

Image: The sensory chill out zone Holly made for her daughter during Christmas.

3. No 'naughty' or 'nice'. Leave judgement out of it

Chances are the people in your life with sensory differences, or the parents of children with sensory differences, spend their lives apologising for who they are in a world that makes them feel like they don’t quite fit. Let your event be the one day of the year where you offer total acceptance, don’t offer advice or ‘helpful suggestions’ on ‘miracle cures’. Just offer love for them, exactly as they are.

4. Communicate

Consider giving your guests a visual schedule or social story ahead of the day. There are countless resources on the internet about how to create these, but essentially, it’s about setting out the day step-by-step in plain language and clear photos so people know what to expect. You might like to include pictures of the ‘safe zone’ you’ve set up, too.

5. Accept you will get it wrong

Unfortunately, going to all this effort doesn’t mean the day will go off without a hitch. But by making these adjustments, you’re creating a lasting impression on all of your guests - not just your loved one’s with sensory needs. 

After the event is over and your guests have had a chance to recover and reflect, ask them about what worked and what needs to change for the next time. Knowing that you care enough to hear truthful feedback is a beautiful Christmas gift in itself.