School Study Guide: Managing Holiday Sensory Overload

Birmingham, Ala. (Nov. 14, 2025) — The holiday season can be a busy time for families. With holiday gatherings, parties, and numerous festivities, it can be nonstop.  All the hustle and bustle can also be challenging for children who have sensory processing disorder. Kelsey Granthum, an occupational therapist at Children’s of Alabama, says sensory processing disorder deals with how our brain and body perceive different stimuli in the environment. Children with sensory processing issues may react differently to various types of sensory input.

“Lots of bright lights, family gatherings, all of the different smells,” said Granthum. “All of the relatives are coming and talking to children, or patting them on the head, or trying to hug them. Another trigger comes along with those cute family photos and the matching outfits. What may be comfortable on you and your other children may not be comfortable on every child.”

So, how do you know when your child is being overwhelmed by sensory issues? Granthum says there are several signs, and it is essential for parents to recognize them.

“It would look like children who don’t like certain clothing, so maybe they hate wearing jeans because they say they are itching, or they don’t like tags in their shirts,” said Granthum. “It can also be children who go into grocery stores or large family gatherings and have their hands covering their ears and saying it’s too loud. It can be children who get startled easily by police sirens and fire trucks. It can also be picky eaters or children who would be described as very busy. They are constantly moving.”

Granthum says once parents learn to recognize the triggers, the next step is to create an environment that works for their child.

“Be mindful of your child; lots of these sensory triggers can lead to overstimulation and being overwhelmed, which then causes the huge meltdown that you might get,” said Granthum. “Parents need to realize that these are children, and they don’t understand their emotions yet, so the more you can do to help and cut off these behaviors before they happen, the happier everyone will be. It just takes a little prep on the parents’ side.”

Grantham says that if sensory overload occurs at a family gathering or any large gathering, create a quiet place where a child can retreat for a few minutes. She also recommends that parents talk to their children and give them a heads-up about any schedule changes or details regarding holiday outings.  In situations like these, Granthum says communication is probably the most important thing a parent can do to help their child.

“The more they know and understand, the better mentally prepared they are to handle it,” Granthum.

It is not only large gatherings that can be triggering for some children, but also holiday decorations.

“Consider the soft LED lights if you are doing Christmas decorations,” said Granthum. “Be mindful of any animatronic decorations that you might put up. Some children may love the dancing and moving. Some may not.”

Another tool that Granthum recommends for parents is a sensory bag. The sensory bag should include items that help a child calm down, such as a weighted blanket, a fidget spinner, noise-canceling headphones, or the child’s favorite toy.

If a parent is concerned their child may have an undiagnosed sensory processing disorder, Granthum advises them to consult an occupational therapist who can help them identify the triggers and ways to help.

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