11 Sensory-Friendly Tips to Enjoy the 4th of July
This weekend, many of us will be enjoying fireworks, cookouts, and maybe some time at the pool or beach. If you are raising a laid back kid who doesn’t have any struggles with their sensory system, they may take all these different stimuli in stride.
These loud noises, new tactile experiences, and unfamiliar environments can be a lot for kids with sensory processing difficulties. Being in a new place, meaning a beach house for the week, or even just at a family member’s house for the afternoon may be a lot for little one, as we have all been spending our time at home lately. By having your child out of their comfortable, “safe” environment, their nervous system may be activated, so new sensory stimuli, such as fireworks, the sandy beach, or a big pool, may be even more difficult for your child to process.
For those who have kids that need a little extra encouragement and modification with new experiences, here are some ways you can help your kids to enjoy the weekend, and to be comfortable with the festivities:
FIREWORKS
· Prepare your child for what they may experience before it happens. Use your knowledge of the 5 senses to start. (Sidenote, did you know there are actually 8 senses, not 5? Smell, Taste, Touch, See, Hear, Proprioceptive, Tactile, and Vestibular. We just learned about this at Emerge Pediatric Occupational Therapy. I love OTs and love Emerge!). Describe what fireworks look like. Tell them how fireworks make loud noises. If you think it would be helpful, you can show your child a video of some fireworks to show them what they can look and sound like. Explain how they work, and that they will not hurt you from a distance.
· Have some comfort/soothing measures such as a fidget toy to play with, or a stuffed animal for your child to squeeze.
· If your child is really sensitive to loud noises, you can try noise-cancelling headphones for the fireworks, but make sure to try them on earlier in the week or earlier in the day.
POOL
· Talk about the pool before they get in. Tell them how it may feel. Have them pick out their pool gear if you can. Bathing suits, puddle jumper/floaties, or fun pool toys can be big motivators! Relate it to a bath if your child likes the bath.
· Always remember pool safety, and make sure your child knows they need an adult with them in the pool at all times. For some kids, being held on a parent or adult they feel safe with can be a great way to getting in the pool without freely swimming or wading around.
· Read your child’s cues, and if they are fearful or highly stressed in the pool, you can try other options, such as a water table, or wading kiddie pool for them to get more comfortable with the water.
BEACH
· If you’re at the beach, bring a big blanket, umbrella, and sunglasses for your child in order to have a cool place for them to watch and take it all in. Have some toys they can use on the blanket if they aren’t interested in playing by the water.
· Bring lots of snacks and water for them to stay hydrated and have some fuel. Popsicles are a great idea and sensory experience!
· Manage your expectations, as some kids can go hours at the beach, and some will have fun for an hour or two. Plan for what your day may look like if your child hits their limit sooner than you will.
COOKOUTS
· If you have an adventurous eater, this is a great experience for them to have what everyone else is eating and trying some new foods. For those with more selective kids, you may want to bring a preferred food or two for your picky eater’s plate. As a huge advocate of offering your child the foods that everyone else is eating, I acknowledge there are times where it can be a good idea to have some favorites to put on your child’s plate, especially when their nervous system may already be activated for the day.
· Talk about the colors and textures of the new foods. Play with the new foods. Make a stack of cantaloupe pieces. Try to give yourself a ketchup mustache. ‘Brush your teeth’ with a French fry! Have fun with the new foods, and know that if your child doesn’t eat everything on their plate, that playing and tolerating new foods on their plate is a small victory, and increases tolerance and exposure.
Know that you’re a great parent, and you got this! Have fun this weekend and be safe. As always, I'll be sharing some tips, strategies, and humor on my Instagram, @homegrownspeech.