How to Prep Your Child for Holiday Gatherings (Speech Therapy Tips for a Stress-Free Season)

The holiday season is a time for connection, celebration, and family traditions — from decorating the tree and baking cookies to visiting relatives, seeing Santa, or lighting the menorah together. Every child deserves to be part of these moments in a way that feels comfortable, supported, and joyful.

For many families of children with speech delays, developmental differences, or disabilities, though, the holidays can also bring stress. Gatherings are often loud, fast-paced, and full of sensory and social expectations. Some parents find themselves avoiding events altogether, worried it might be too hard for their child.

The truth is, with a little preparation and flexibility, it’s possible to make holiday experiences positive and meaningful — without pushing your child beyond their comfort zone. The goal isn’t to do everything or have a picture-perfect day, but to find what works best for your family. With realistic planning, communication supports, and backup strategies for when things get overwhelming, your child can take part in the magic of the season — in their own way.

Plan Ahead: Predictability Builds Confidence

Children thrive on predictability, especially when facing new or unpredictable situations like holiday gatherings. One of the most effective speech therapy tips for the holidays that helps your child feel calm and ready is called priming.

Priming simply means preparing your child ahead of time by previewing what will happen, who will be there, and what they might experience. This helps reduce anxiety, improve understanding, and give them a mental “map” of what’s coming.

You can use visuals, social stories, or simple explanations to walk through the day’s events. For example:

• “First we’ll drive to Grandma’s house.”

• “Then we’ll have dinner.”

• “After dinner, we’ll open presents.”

You can show photos of relatives, practice saying their names, or look at pictures of the space if it’s new. For younger children or those with language delays, drawing pictures or using a visual schedule can be especially helpful.

Priming is also useful for specific holiday outings — like going to see Santa, attending a school concert, or sledding in the snow. Talk about what your child might see, hear, or feel. For example:

“We’ll stand in line to see Santa. You can tell him what you want, or you can wave. It might be loud, but we can take a break if you need to.”

By talking through these details ahead of time, your child knows what to expect, which helps prevent sensory overload or social stress in the moment.

If your child uses AAC, it’s also a good time to add new or seasonal vocabulary to their system. Think about words they might need for upcoming events — “Santa,” “tree,” “sled,” “cookies,” “snow,” or “music.” You can also include phrases like “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Holidays,” “That’s funny,” or “All done.”

Your AAC specialist or speech-language pathologist can help with updating your child’s device or providing communication boards for seasonal events. Adding the right words in advance ensures your child has the tools to join in conversations, make comments, and share their experiences with confidence.

Practice Social Moments in Advance

Holiday gatherings are often full of social expectations — saying hello to relatives, taking turns opening gifts, joining group games, or answering endless questions from well-meaning adults. For kids with communication or sensory differences, these moments can feel unpredictable and stressful.

Practicing ahead of time gives your child the tools and confidence they need to handle these situations successfully. Think of it as rehearsing for real life — in a way that’s fun, low-pressure, and tailored to your child’s abilities.

You can role-play simple interactions your child might encounter: greeting relatives, showing a toy, asking for help, or responding to a question. Keep it brief, playful, and repeatable.

Try practicing phrases or actions your child can use, such as:

• “Hi!” or “Happy Holidays!” paired with a wave or smile.

• “Thank you!” or “I like it!” when opening gifts.

• “No, thank you,” or “Yes, please” when offered food.

• “All done,” or “Can we go outside?” to ask for a break.

You can use spoken words, gestures, visuals, signs, or AAC — whatever communication method your child uses most comfortably. If they use a device or picture board, consider adding those phrases in advance and practicing how to find them together.

It can also help to act out common scenarios before the big day. Take turns pretending to greet family members, pass food, or share toys. Keep it light and encouraging — the goal isn’t memorization, but familiarity.

When children know what to expect, it reduces anxiety and increases confidence. Even a few short, playful practice sessions can make a big difference in helping your child feel ready to connect and participate.

Create a Safe Space for Downtime

Even with preparation, holiday gatherings can be a lot to take in — the sounds, smells, lights, and energy can easily become overwhelming. Planning for downtime is just as important as preparing for participation.

Identify a quiet, comfortable space where your child can take breaks as needed. This might be a guest bedroom, a cozy corner, or even a car parked outside if you’re visiting family. Talk about this space ahead of time so your child knows it’s available and safe to use whenever they need it.

Pack a small “comfort kit” to help them recharge. This might include noise-canceling headphones, a favorite stuffed animal, fidget toys, or a weighted blanket. If your child uses AAC or visuals, include their communication tools so they can express what they need, such as “quiet,” “go rest,” or “too loud.”

You can even make a simple visual card or phrase they can use to signal a break. For example:

• “I need a break.”

• “Too loud.”

• “I want to go to my quiet spot.”

Let relatives know in advance that your child may need downtime and that taking breaks is part of helping them stay regulated, not a sign of bad behavior. You might say something like:

“If they step away or put on headphones, that’s just how they reset so they can enjoy the rest of the day.”

Having a designated calm space — and permission to use it freely — helps your child know they’re supported, not pressured. It also gives them the confidence to rejoin when they’re ready, making the whole day more positive for everyone.

Prepare Family & Friends

Sometimes it’s not the child who needs the most preparation — it’s the adults around them. Family members often have the best intentions but may not know how to interact with a child who communicates differently, needs breaks, or struggles with new environments. Preparing relatives and friends in advance helps set everyone up for success.

Before the gathering, share a few key things about what helps your child feel comfortable and supported. This might include how they communicate, what signs to look for if they’re feeling overwhelmed, and what to do if they need a break. Keep it simple and friendly — just enough information to build understanding.

You might say something like:

• “He might not answer right away, but he understands you — give him a moment.”

• “She uses her talker to communicate — you can wait and then respond like you would with anyone.”

• “We’re helping him practice greetings, so a wave or a smile is perfect.”

• “If she walks away for a few minutes, that’s her way of taking a break. She’ll come back when she’s ready.”

These small explanations help relatives approach your child with patience instead of pressure.

It can also help to show family members what AAC or other communication tools look like in use. Demonstrate a few simple words or phrases your child uses — like “yes,” “no,” “want,” or “thank you.” Encourage them to model, wait, and respond just like you do at home.

If you’re visiting people who don’t see your child often, consider sending a short “About Me” card or message ahead of time with a photo, favorite activities, and a few helpful tips. For example:

“Liam loves monster trucks and books. He uses an AAC device to talk and sometimes needs breaks from noise. He might not answer questions right away, but he’s listening!”

This kind of gentle priming helps others feel more confident and allows your child to walk into a more understanding environment.

And if someone is curious about AAC or asks questions, that’s a chance for education, not defense. A simple, friendly explanation like “That’s his voice — he uses it to tell us what he’s thinking” normalizes communication differences and helps relatives see that AAC and speech therapy support inclusion, not limitation.

When extended family knows what to expect — and how to help — gatherings become more inclusive and relaxed for everyone.

Keep Expectations Realistic

It’s easy to picture how we want the holidays to go — cheerful greetings, big family hugs, perfect photos, and long dinners full of laughter. But for children with communication or sensory differences, those picture-perfect moments can feel like pressure instead of joy.

Let go of the idea that everything has to go according to plan. Real success isn’t about how long your child participates or how “smoothly” the day goes — it’s about helping them feel safe, understood, and included.

If your child joins in for part of a meal, practices one greeting, or enjoys playing quietly with a cousin — that’s meaningful progress. Celebrate those wins. They show that your child is engaging and connecting in ways that work for them.

It’s also okay to adjust plans in real time. Maybe your child skips group games but loves watching from the sidelines, or eats their meal later in a quieter space. Maybe you head home early, or take a short walk outside to reset. None of these choices mean the day was a failure — they mean you’re tuning into your child’s needs.

Try to focus on quality over quantity. Even a few calm, joyful moments are worth far more than a full day of stress. And if things don’t go as expected? Give yourself grace. You’re helping your child navigate a world that isn’t always designed for their needs — that takes patience, creativity, and love.

The holidays don’t have to look like everyone else’s to be special. When you follow your child’s lead and honor what they can handle, you create space for real connection — and that’s what truly makes the season meaningful.

Bring in Your Support Team

You don’t have to navigate the holidays on your own. Your child’s speech therapist or AAC specialist can be a valuable partner in helping you prepare for gatherings and family events. Together, you can brainstorm what might be challenging for your child and build strategies that match their specific communication style and comfort level.

Therapists can help you create visuals or social stories to explain upcoming routines, role-play greetings and transitions, and even add holiday-related words or family names to your child’s AAC system. If your child doesn’t yet use AAC, they can suggest ways to support communication through gestures, signs, picture symbols, or simple verbal scripts.

The goal isn’t to make your child fit into every social situation — it’s to help them feel confident and understood, wherever they are. With the right tools and preparation, your child can participate in the holidays in ways that feel comfortable and meaningful for them.

If you already work with a therapist, reach out and share your upcoming plans — they’ll be happy to help you get ready. And if you don’t have an AAC specialist or speech therapist and think your family could use extra support, please contact us. We specialize in creating custom materials to support our client's needs wherever communication happens, whether that’s at home, school, or during family gatherings. Our team at The ProAACtive SLP is here to help you prepare, build confidence, and make communication part of every celebration.

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