While the rest of the world is decking the halls with boughs of holly and ringing out the Christmas bells for all they’re worth, many families with neurodivergent children are dealing with a very different sort of Christmas - a Christmas where overstimulated children who hate loud noises, strange flavours, unfamiliar visitors, unusual sensations, changes from routine, and unexpected surprises are trying to negotiate a month or more of all of those delights.

Christmas is a season which for most adults is full of memories, traditions and expectations. We remember the Christmases of our childhood and want to recreate them for our children. Everywhere around us, we see reminders of what a magical season it is and how special it is for the children.

Meanwhile, for our children, the run-up to Christmas in nurseries and schools is madly busy. There are non-uniform days, rehearsals for Christmas performances, special meals, outings to the pantomime, tinsel and bright lights everywhere, and a big jolly man with a red suit and hat and a white beard which makes it hard to see his face properly seems to follow them everywhere.

At home, too, there are changes - special outings, shopping trips, decorations, plans to visit far-flung relatives, visitors to the house, more strange food and that big jolly man again…

It has all the ingredients of a perfect storm - high expectations on our side, and high demands on our children. It’s not a wonder so many families with neurodivergent children dread Christmas!

Pour yourself a glass of something warm and comforting, and join us for an evening of tips and tales to help you through the Christmas season.