Tips for a happy New Year’s Eve

Celebrating New Year’s Eve in a place other than at home can be problematic for many children with autism or sensory information processing problems.

As a result of overwhelming sensory input, new places, loud noises, disruptions to the normal routine that the party environment creates. So when you’re looking for some sting-friendly New Year’s Eve ideas for kids and you’d rather stay home to celebrate New Year’s Eve, try one (or all!) of these simple ideas.

Celebrate New Year’s Eve earlier, for example, at eleven o’clock instead of midnight.
Many children with autism have sleeping problems. So if staying up late or midnight is disrupting your child’s bedtime routine, try celebrating New Year’s Eve as early as the afternoon or early evening. Light the fireworks together and have a nice drink together.

Make a sensory container or a New Year-themed sensory bottle
Playing with materials from a sensory tray can be comforting for children who become overwhelmed by sensory input. Try filling a sensory tray with New Year’s Eve theme full of confetti, balloons, party blowers, glow sticks, or whatever your kids like to have fun with. Or make a calming sensory bottle by mixing water with glitter or confetti. Or how about a nice lava runner or playing with super sand.

Watch videos of fireworks
Instead of watching and setting off real fireworks on New Year’s Eve, you can quietly watch videos of fireworks inside. That way you can easily control the volume of the fireworks. Still want to go outside? Then think of hearing protection for your child.

Snuggle up on the couch with weighting and a movie
Weighting provides a calming deep pressure and proprioceptive sensory input. So offer your child weight and watch your child’s favorite movie together as an easy way to bridge the time to the new year. Provide popcorn, excellent sensory input.

Plan a family game night
Playing games together is a perfect way to have a fun evening together. And you also work on your child’s social skills. So spend New Year’s Eve playing your child(ren)’s favorite family games. For example, I can recommend the games Nonense and Dobble .