School Holidays ‘Guide to Thrive’ for SEN Parents

The school holidays can be an especially challenging time for families with children who have special needs. Here are some tips to help families with special education needs survive during the holidays:

1. Stick to a routine: Children with special needs prefer a routine and predictability, so try to stick to your regular routine as much as possible during the holidays. This can help reduce anxiety and stress.

2. Communicate with family members: Let family members know how they can best support you and your children during the holidays. This can help prevent misunderstandings and ensure that everyone has a positive experience.

3. Create a quiet space: Set up a space where your child can retreat and have a timeout. This can be a place where they can relax, decompress, and recharge.

4. Plan ahead: Be prepared for any changes to your child's routine, such as travel or special events. Communicate this effectively to your child so there are no surprises. This can help reduce anxiety and make the transition smoother.

5. Practice self-care: Taking care of yourself is important during the holidays, especially when you have a child with special needs. This can be as simple as taking a walk or reading a book, to help you reduce stress and recharge.

More tips can be found HERE

School Holiday Activity Ideas for SEN Children

Keeping children occupied during the holidays can be tough. It’s important to provide activities that are engaging, fun, and stimulating. Here are some activities that you can do with SEN children:

1. Sensory play activities can help children develop their senses and improve their ability to focus. Examples of sensory play activities include playing with slime, sand, or water beads.

2. Art and crafts activities are good for developing fine motor skills and expressing creativity. Have a go at finger painting, making collages, and drawing.

3. Music and movement activities support coordination and improve a child’s mood. You could try dancing, singing, and playing instruments.

4. Nature walks can provide a relaxing and stimulating environment for children to explore and engage with their surroundings. You can encourage children to collect natural materials, such as leaves or rocks, and use them for art activities.

5. Storytelling and role-playing activities are great for children to develop their communication skills and enhance their imagination. You can read stories to your child, encourage them to read to you or be theatrical by incorporating acting in the storytelling!

With SEN children, it's important to tailor activities to their individual needs and interests. Providing a variety of activities can help keep children engaged and interested. You can read more HERE

Avoid Sensory Overloading a SEN Child During Activities.

It's important to be mindful of a child's sensory and cognitive needs when planning activities to avoid overloading them. Here’s a few suggestions of how you can keep SEN children engaged:

1. Keep activities short and focused to avoid overstimulation and fatigue. Break up longer activities into shorter segments and provide opportunities for rest breaks.

2. Provide sensory breaks to help children regulate their sensory systems and reduce anxiety. These breaks could be in the form of sensory breaks and can include deep pressure activities such as hugs or weighted blankets, or movement breaks, such as jumping jacks or yoga poses.

3. Use visual supports such as schedules, pictures, and checklists to help children understand what is expected of them and provide a sense of structure and predictability.

4. Adjust the environment to reduce distractions, such as turning off the TV or dimming the lights and provide a quiet space for rest breaks.

5. Follow the child's lead, observe their behaviour, and adjust the activity accordingly. If a child is showing signs of being overloaded or is not engaged, it may be time to take a break or adjust the activity.

Here’s further advice on how to avoid sensory overload for your SEN child

Let us know what you end up doing to entertain your SEN children. We’d love to know!

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