3 Simple Steps to Hosting A Neurodiverse Friendly Christmas Cookie and Craft Day
Managing Christmas traditions so that all enjoy the day will look different for kids with trauma histories and neurodivesities. This doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate. Kids will need to participate at their level, not measure up to everyone else’s expectations.
I’ve said many times on the podcast – our family is Capital Letter Syndrome Soup.
We have ADHD, Autism (ASD), SPD, Dyslexia, and more.
3 Simple Ways To Host
What I’m sharing is certainly not an exhaustive list. It’s also not the “right” way to host a Christmas Cookie and Craft Day. It’s how we do it here at the Guire Shire. More than anything else, I’d like you to read through this list and use what works and delete what doesn’t.
*Just for reference we hosted Christmas Craft and Cookie Day with 4 adults (3 daughters and me) and 13 grandkiddos.
Prepare everything ahead of time. As the hostess, I make the cookie doh, gather the cookie cutters, wash them (because they have Play-Doh on them), have all the crafts in one place, wrapping station set up, etc… In other words don’t wait til the day and scramble trying to find everything, make everything while children wait.
Change expectations to fit the child. One child may run around and turn on and off the lights (fans) all day. True story. Not every child can participate in every activity that you worked so hard to prepare. Instead of taking it personally or forcing the issue, change your expectations. Ask yourself -is the child enjoying the day? Is he creating great memories?
Engage with the kiddos. Listen to their stories. Answer their questions. Let them talk while you craft, bake, and wrap presents. I added this one because I’m totally project focused and I need this reminder. If it’s not about connection, then why host? There are certainly no cookies left at the end of the day (that’s a joke).
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how I host a Christmas craft and cookie day
This article is more about how to manage a Christmas Craft and Cookie Day for kiddos with trauma histories and Capital Letter Syndromes, but you may be wondering – How do YOU host?
Make two types of cookie dough ahead of time. I make sugar cookie and gingerbread – both recipes from Gluten-free on a Shoestring. My family has many food sensitivities (and I am a Celiac) so finding recipes to suit everyone is important. I also added some soy-free, dairy-free, gluten-free chocolate cookie dough balls to snack on from Keto Karma.
Have plenty of healthy food for kids to snack on to counteract the sugar. This year I served a veggie tray, meat and cheese tray, plus a huge platter of berries. These foods were available all day. Think charcuterie board – essentially I prepared (with hubby’s help) three. Add hummus and ranch and you’re set.
I have the kids draw names at Christmas Craft and Cookie Day, then wrap presents for the person that I have pre-purchased. At the end of the day, we open the gifts beside the Christmas tree. Then the kiddos play while grown-ups clean up.
As a bonus, some of the kids love to help clean up – start the Robo vac and chase him around, use the mop vac, load the dishwasher, etc… Just a heads up- let them participate on their level. You may have to redo it later when they aren’t watching. One of my daughters said to me -“Mom, I never realized how much you had to re-do our chores until I had kids doing chores!”
Obviously, you can host a Christmas Craft and Cookie Day in whatever way works for you. Just enjoy it and make it fit your family’s personality! Not mine.
One last tip – I pick a craft or two or three. We had three planned this year, but we only did one. I picked Mason Jar Lid wreathes for the five oldest grandkids and they loved it. The youngers were too busy playing. so we didn’t require them to do a craft.
FREE 7-Day Challenge
Get ready to thrive this holiday season!
What if you and your kiddos could thrive through the holidays this year? Join the 7-Day challenge, grab your free chapter of 25 Days of Thriving through Christmas and watch your inbox for the next steps!