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One of the most exciting events in summer is the 4th of July. Barbecues, family gatherings, carnivals, and of course fireworks.
However, this holiday can quickly become a nightmare for a family who has a child with autism or other special needs. The 4th can be challenging for any child, but for someone who is prone to sensory overload, it can be extremely overwhelming.
Autism Speaks does a great job in naming a few tips and tricks for families dealing with this. These include:
• Bringing headphones or earplugs. This can help children who want to see fireworks but get overstimulated by the noise.
• Be mindful of how close you are to all the fireworks.
• Bring a favorite toy or gadget to a child while waiting in line and dealing with big crowds.
• Last but not least, make sure you and your children are prepared. Work in advance on desensitizing them to fireworks such as watching videos and seeing how they respond. Do not push them to go into crowded areas and loud atmospheres if they are not ready. You know your child best!
Stay safe and happy 4th of July!
Mobile Therapy Centers of America
Elaina is a part of our MTC Occupational Therapy Department and received an education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, McHenry County College, and Husson University. She has a strong passion for working with both animals and children. Elaina has always wanted to incorporate both of these passions into her career and is incredibly excited to bring Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) to Mobile Therapy Centers!
Rocky is an Australian Mountain Doodle who loves to learn, play, and meet new people. Rocky joined our MTC team when he was just 8 weeks old and has been training to support the clients of MTC from day one. His kind and loving nature makes him the perfect match for Animal-Assisted Therapy, and Rocky can not wait to meet all his new friends through the MTC AAT program!