As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season arrives, many families who are raising children and young adults identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prepare for the season in a different way than those families not touched by ASD. Because autism interferes with development of social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and sensory development, the individual with autism and their family are affected by special challenges when the lights, music and action of the holiday season commence. Preparation is key to lessening the stress and creating an enjoyable experience for all involved. The holiday tips below are designed to support the family, as they prepare to engage in the sparkle and joy of the holiday, at a level appropriate to their child's need and tolerance.

Preparation is an essential element for most individuals, especially individuals on the spectrum. Introduction of the holiday season and upcoming festivities through various visual strategies is a proactive manner to support and ready your child on the spectrum. Remember to be mindful of what you know about your child's specific strengths and specific challenges in order to support them most appropriately. In preparation of upcoming activities, using a calendar and marking off events, creating visual schedules, and sharing social narratives are methods that can be designed to provide your child supports they need. Although the work you will be doing begins at home, many of the strategies and tips will build a bridge toward eventual generalizing outward through consistent practice and explicit teaching.

• Advent Calendars are great visual products and are commercially available to the general public. These holiday calendars will support your child on the spectrum, right along with his/her typically developing sister or brother. • Including the Holiday decorating events in the home on the calendar, or within a visual schedule, may provide support for a person with autism who has difficulty with change. Gradually decorating the house on a schedule, rather than all at once, can become your family's tradition while supporting your child with ASD navigate change. • Compiling photo albums to explicitly support children through their visual channel can lessen anxiety and create a foundation of understanding.

* Prepare a photo album in advance to include friends and family who will be visiting during the holiday season. Explore the photo album together. Talk briefly about each individual in the album. Allow your child to access the photo album often. * prepare a photo album in advance to include pictures from previous holidays that show pictures of the holiday decorations. Add to the photo album with your child, as you slowly introduce new holiday decorations. Create rules or a social narrative about the decorations, to include what can be touched and what cannot be touched. In addition to safeguarding family decorations, these rules can be expanded to include when you are visiting other homes, classrooms, or businesses with holiday decorations.

• Prepare for when an event becomes overwhelming. When you are planning for visitors, set aside a calming corner for your child and teach them a signal to show when they are becoming overwhelmed or worried. Practice using the calming corner or calming room at various times, prior to when your guests arrive. Utilize the calming strategies that fit your child's needs, such as soft music, rubbing his/her back, turning down the lights, reviewing a social narrative, provision of a sensory blanket, fidget, favorite toy or book, and so on. Through practice and insight of this self-management tool, utilizing a calming space outside of the home can be a goal for the future beyond holiday time.

• Practice family traditions ahead of time. There are many social nuances attached to gifting that have the potential to go awry, without explicit and direct teaching. Additionally, certain religious rituals or family traditions may need to be taught and practiced. Social narratives and photo albums are some visual tools that can support your child in preparation and practice of these events, as well as role-playing scenarios. A task analysis relative to gifts includes the following major actions: *Turn-taking *Waiting *Responding

Be consistent with the basics: *Make sure that specific food and drink is available to meet your child's needs, prior to the event. *Try to maintain sleep and food routines before, during, and after the holiday parties and events. *Be mindful of how much noise and sensory input your child can tolerate and respect their personal levels. Be ready to utilize an exit plan or calming corner to regroup. Avoid situations that you know will feed their fears or cause chaos, such as crowded shopping malls or long waits at crowded restaurants.

• Be proactive and prepare family members for strategies to use to enhance interaction and lessen anxiety: *Help grandparents to understand if your child prefers to be hugged or not. *Coach others to remain calm and neutral, if your child becomes upset so that you can redirect and support in your consistent manner in accordance with your child's needs. *Accept well-meaning advice with a smile and a calm and neutral response tactic of thanking the person for their perspective. *Pack a survival holiday bag containing sensory items, preferred snacks, toys or items, and water bottles. Include sensory items, such as earplugs or headphones to block noise, holiday-themed fidgets, or calming sounds or music. *Prepare your child for schedule changes, such as school parties, assemblies, and family outings. Above all else, enjoy your child and this holiday season through discovering and supporting your child at their level of need.•