Making Family Holidays Enjoyable for Children with ADHD

Children diagnosed with ADHD often find the holiday season stressful. The change in routine due to traveling or visiting family members and the heightened excitements can be overwhelming for them.

However, by implementing a few practical strategies, you can prevent holiday chaos, ensure your children's well-being, and create enjoyable memories:

It's no secret that holiday traditions tend to disrupt regular routines. Children with ADHD might have to deal with long travel hours, extended durations of formal dinner times, and a lack of control over diet and sleep routines. By foreseeing these potential challenges and strategically planning, both the child and the parents can navigate the holiday period more efficiently.

Planning the holiday activities — whether it's attending parties, decorating the house, visiting relatives, or baking holiday goodies — and creating a flexible schedule is beneficial, especially when your child may require some downtime.

Outline each section of the holiday period, including all the “free” time where the child may interact with peers or family members. Use your understanding of your child's preferences and capabilities to highlight the activities that could potentially cause issues. If needed, make changes to the schedule and discuss appropriate coping strategies with your child.

Pro Tip: If your child is prescribed ADHD medication, consider discussing with your doctor the possibility of extending the dosage duration to 24 hours during holiday time. This approach possibly increases your child's ability to enjoy the high-energy holiday period even more.

Providing tools of self-control to your child can avert extreme reactions or tantrums. Relaxation methods like yoga or breathing exercises can aid a child prone to anxiety in highly charged environments. Further, giving verbal reminders to your child supports sustaining a positive mindset.

When facing large groups in a family gathering or displaying appropriate manners at the dinner table, gentle reminders like “I know you can do this. It's only a short part of the day,” can help your child manage.

Some children with ADHD may benefit from practicing calming techniques at home before attending bustling holiday events. You can use methods like 'stop, relax, think,' or role-play past challenging scenarios to prepare your child. Empower your child to ask for assistance when conflict with a relative or friend arises. Eventually, just the act of moving towards you could help your child find calmness.

Pro Tip: To avoid peer conflicts, recommend your child to take a game or toy to share with other children involved.

Too many activities can overstimulate a child with ADHD. Choose only the significant events, avoiding an overloaded schedule. Include individual playtime or a visit to a child-friendly eatery for some personal enjoyment. Simple activities like spending quiet time in a corner of the house or taking a short walk can prevent potential tantrums.

Pro Tip: If you plan to stay several days with a relative, consider booking a motel room instead. This strategy could offer your child some necessary breathing space. Explain to your family your need for alternate sleeping arrangements to avoid misunderstandings.

Praising a child's appropriate behavior boosts their confidence and assures them of their ability to tackle anything the holiday season may pose. Highlighting past successful occasions can significantly inspire your child.

Foster happy memories by involving your child in holiday activities like preparing the festive meal, creating decorations, or wrapping gifts. These activities can cultivate a stronger bond between parent and child.