Planning for a Sensory Friendly Fourth
Tips and Considerations for families with Visually Impaired children
The Fourth of July is a very vibrant and exciting holiday filled with fireworks, friends, parades, and cookouts. With so much going on around the holiday, it can easily get overwhelming. But for families with a visually impaired child, additional stress, steps and overwhelm can take away from the connection and fun the holiday brings.
To combat this stress and anxiety, we want to share some ways to minimize overwhelm and maximize confidence over the holiday weekend!
Environmental Considerations:
Create or find a quiet space where you can take your child to relax in case of overstimulation or a meltdown. If you plan on celebrating in a familiar environment (such as your home or a relative's), you likely already know where you can go for some quiet space. If you aren’t familiar with the location, be confident and ask the host or establishment where you can go for a quiet space.
Additionally, consider where fireworks will be going off, how many people will be around, and other variables that might affect your child, be it mobility or emotional.
Create a Sensory Tool Kit:
Whether you’re staying at home or going someplace else, consider bringing a sensory tool kit! This can be helpful during times of overstimulation or discomfort! This “tool kit” could include things like your child's favorite toys or snacks, a weighted blanket, fidget toys, and anything else you know provides comfort or acts as a distraction.
Minimize Overstimulation (within your control):
For kids with visual impairments, things like noise, lights, visual clutter, and other unwanted stimuli can often lead to overstimulation. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize this! Bringing things like noise-canceling headphones, comfort objects (see sensory tool kit), or sunglasses can reduce the impact of environmental stimuli.
It’s also important to remember the Fourth is busy and things like fireworks or large crowds can cause visual fatigue. So, give your child extra time to process what they see or an alternative way to be involved, like a firework iPad game.
Communicate & Involve your Child:
Before your holiday activities or travel, have a conversation with your child about what to expect. Communicate with your child how they would best understand, such as “First we will eat, then play, then watch fireworks”. You can use examples with sounds, images, or even smells to describe the day too! If there will be fireworks, be sure to describe when this will happen and where.
Don’t only communicate what the day will look like but involve them in planning it. Including your child can help them feel empowered and more willing to participate!
Lean on Others:
Communicate with your friends and family! Due to visual impairments occurring low incidentally, many people do not frequently consider blindness in their every day plans. This is often a great opportunity to build awareness, create strong ambassadors, and practice advocacy in a safe space—with your people!
Remember, you’re never alone! Lean on others within your support circle to help you prepare for the holiday or even during. Consult with your teachers and therapists if you have any questions or concerns about attending social events over the Fourth of July, or any other social events!
During any holiday or large gathering, some things will be out of your control. And that’s okay! Instead, focus on what you can control and how you can help your child to feel safe, comfortable, and empowered to be involved!