How to Create Inclusive Holiday Traditions for Teens and Young Adults
Holidays are a time for joy, togetherness, and creating cherished memories. For teens and young adults with intellectual and developmental differences, the holidays can also offer unique opportunities to learn and practice essential life skills while enjoying the festive season. Holiday traditions that include crafts, cooking, and storytelling can be adapted to create inclusive experiences that are meaningful, fun, and educational. Let’s explore ways to ensure everyone can fully participate in the holiday magic.
Crafting for the Holidays: Building Practical Life Skills
Crafts are a delightful way to engage teens and young adults during the holidays. It’s not just about creativity; crafts can help develop practical life skills like following instructions, improving fine motor skills, and fostering independence.
Personalized Ornaments
Creating ornaments for the holidays is an easy and rewarding activity. You can use materials like foam sheets, felt, or pre-made ornament kits to make the process simple and accessible. Provide step-by-step instructions, either visually or verbally, to help your child or student stay engaged and on track.
For an added touch of independence, set up a crafting station where your child or student can choose their supplies. This allows them to make decisions while practicing organizational skills. Encourage their creativity by letting each person add their flair with paint, glitter, or stickers to make their ornaments unique.
Holiday Cards with Meaning
Making holiday cards is a great way to teach social skills and thoughtfulness. Use templates with bold lines or pre-printed designs to ensure everyone can participate. Provide a variety of art supplies like markers, stickers, and stamps for personalization. Encourage your child or student to write simple, heartfelt messages such as “Happy Holidays” or “Thinking of You.”
This activity also builds fine motor skills and reinforces gratitude. Teach your child or student how to address envelopes to extend the learning. This is a practical life skill they’ll use throughout their lives.
Wrapping Paper Creations
Homemade wrapping paper adds a personal touch to gift-giving. Use rolls of kraft paper and provide tools like stamps, stencils, and washable paints for decoration. Your child or student can make patterns or simple designs, which boosts their creativity and improves fine motor coordination.
After designing the paper, involve them in wrapping small gifts. This is a great opportunity to practice spatial reasoning and build confidence in completing tasks independently.
Festive Decorations
Creating festive decorations like garlands, wreaths, or paper snowflakes can be a group effort. Assign simple tasks to your child or student based on their abilities, ensuring everyone feels included. Use pre-cut shapes or easy-to-handle materials for accessibility. This activity encourages teamwork and gives everyone a sense of accomplishment when their decorations are displayed. It’s also a great way to strengthen social connections and celebrate everyone’s contributions.
Cooking Together is a Recipe for Independent Living Skills
Cooking during the holidays is more than just preparing meals; it’s an opportunity to teach independent living skills. From measuring ingredients to following recipes, cooking offers countless ways to practice practical life skills.
Baking Holiday Cookies
Baking is a classic holiday tradition that’s perfect for teaching step-by-step processes. Use simple recipes with visual aids to make instructions easy to follow. Measuring ingredients, mixing dough, and decorating cookies all involve fine motor skills and attention to detail.
For added learning, incorporate Omar Learns How to Read Food Labels into the activity. This life skills story helps teens and young adults understand food safety and nutritional information, making the baking process both fun and educational.
Creating a Holiday Menu
Planning a holiday menu is a fantastic way to involve participants in decision-making. Start by brainstorming favorite dishes and guiding them in selecting recipes. Use the resource How to Create a Grocery Shopping List to teach personal finance and meal planning.
Once the menu is planned, take a trip to the grocery store to shop for ingredients. Encourage your child or student to read labels, compare prices, and stick to a budget. These are all essential skills for independent living.
Hot Chocolate Gift Jars
Making hot chocolate gift jars is a fun, low-stress activity. Provide clear instructions for layering cocoa mix, marshmallows, and chocolate chips in jars. This teaches sequencing and encourages creativity as your child, or student decorates the jars with ribbons and tags.
Personalized gift tags can include short, heartfelt messages, allowing participants to practice writing skills. These jars make wonderful gifts for family and friends to reinforce the joy of giving during the holidays.
Preparing Snack Platters
Assembling snack platters is a simple yet rewarding activity. Use items like cheese cubes, crackers, fruits, and vegetables to create festive designs, such as Christmas trees or snowmen. This activity teaches presentation skills and encourages healthy eating habits. Discuss portion sizes and balanced nutrition as part of the process. Your child or student can also practice serving their creations at holiday gatherings, boosting their confidence and social interactions.
Sharing Holiday Joy with Storytelling and Social Skills
Storytelling is a timeless tradition that helps develop communication skills, creativity, and emotional expression. Adapt this activity to ensure it’s inclusive and engaging for everyone.
Reading Aloud Holiday Stories
Choose simple, repetitive holiday stories that are easy to follow. Your child or student can take turns reading aloud or use assistive technology if needed. Incorporate props or costumes to make the experience interactive and fun. For a meaningful twist, use Omar Learns How to Ask for Help to highlight the importance of seeking assistance and building confidence in social situations.
Writing Holiday Memories
Please encourage your child or student to share their favorite holiday memories by creating a memory book. Provide prompts like “My favorite holiday food is…” or “I love when we…” to spark ideas. Your child or student can write, draw, or dictate their stories, making this activity accessible to all. Compile the pages into a scrapbook to create a keepsake they’ll cherish for years. This activity not only develops communication skills but also celebrates individuality and family traditions.
Acting Out Holiday Tales
Turn holiday stories into short plays. Assign simple roles and use props or costumes to bring the tales to life. Acting out stories promotes teamwork, boosts self-confidence, and enhances social skills. Record the performances so your child or student can watch and celebrate their achievements. This is a great way to share holiday joy with family and friends.
Creating Storyboards
Create storyboards for teens or young adults who prefer visual expression to illustrate holiday traditions or memories. Use pictures, drawings, or cut-outs to represent key moments. Arrange them in chronological order to practice sequencing and storytelling. This activity supports creativity and comprehension while providing a fun way to share experiences.
Celebrating Together with Inclusive Parties
Holiday parties are an excellent opportunity to practice social skills and build relationships. With a bit of planning, they can be enjoyable and inclusive for everyone.
Decorating Together
Turn decorating into a group activity. Assign tasks like hanging ornaments, setting the table, or arranging centerpieces. Use visual schedules to outline the steps and ensure everyone knows their role. Play festive music to make the activity lively and engaging. Praise your child or student for their efforts to boost confidence and foster a sense of accomplishment.
Practicing Party Etiquette
Teach your child or student essential social skills like greetings, introductions, and polite conversation. Use role-playing activities to practice these behaviors before the event. The resource Nelson Learns the Importance of Party Etiquette is a fun way to introduce these concepts. Please encourage your child or student to apply their skills during the party, rewarding their efforts with verbal praise or small tokens.
Hosting Inclusive Games
Plan games that are easy to adapt, like holiday bingo, charades, or a scavenger hunt. Provide visual aids or simplified rules to ensure everyone can participate. These games promote teamwork and social interaction in a festive setting. Include sensory-friendly options, like tactile game pieces or noise-reducing materials, for those who need accommodations.
Creating a Quiet Space
Parties can be overwhelming, so offering a quiet area where your child or student can relax is important. Fill the space with calming activities, like coloring books, sensory toys, or puzzles. Soft lighting and soothing music can make the environment even more inviting. This ensures everyone has a positive experience and can rejoin the festivities when they feel ready.
DIY Photo Booths
Set up a simple holiday-themed photo booth with props like Santa hats, reindeer antlers, and festive scarves. Encourage your child or student to take turns posing, acting out scenarios, or even being the photographer. This fosters confidence, creativity, and social interactions while making lasting memories.
Virtual Celebrations
If family or friends are far away, host a virtual holiday gathering. Participants can prepare short “show and tell” segments, sharing something they made or enjoyed about the holidays. This builds communication skills and strengthens bonds, even across distances.
By incorporating these inclusive and adaptive holiday traditions, you can create a festive season filled with joy, learning, and togetherness for teens and young adults with intellectual and developmental differences. These activities not only nurture essential life skills but also provide meaningful ways for everyone to feel valued and celebrated. With a little planning and creativity, the holidays can be magical for all.
The Adulting on the Spectrum team is excited to hear from you. Please share your experiences and insights in the comments below!
Related Posts
Using Holiday Festivities to Teach Kitchen Safety
Using Holiday Festivities to Teach Kitchen Safety The end-of-year holidays are filled with joy, family gatherings, and of course, delicious food. For students with intellectual
Creative DIY Fall Activities for Students with Special Needs
Creative DIY Fall Activities for Students with Special Needs Fall is a magical season, full of vibrant colors, crisp air, and endless learning opportunities. For
Enhancing Communication Skills Through Figurative Language
Enhancing Communication Skills Through Figurative Language As a parent of an autistic child, one of the most significant challenges we face is helping our kids
The Power of ABLE Accounts for Your Child’s Future
Navigating Financial Freedom: The ABLE Account Advantage In the journey of parenthood, we’ve traversed varied paths to support our child’s development. From therapies to alternative
