Celebrating the Holidays Virtually: Planning Remote Gatherings with Neurodivergent Family Members
The holiday season is often synonymous with large family gatherings, festive parties, and bustling events; however, in the wake of virtual connections becoming more common, adapting holiday gatherings to online formats can offer a more accessible and comfortable way to celebrate. Here at vips, we believe in creating inclusive environments where everyone can participate fully and joyfully, in-person or online.
This guide will help you navigate virtual holiday celebrations, offering tips and strategies to ensure they are engaging, inclusive, and sensory-friendly for neurodivergent family members.
Setting Up Virtual Gatherings for Success
When planning a virtual holiday gathering, a little preparation goes a long way in ensuring the event runs smoothly and remains enjoyable for everyone involved.
1. Share the Plan in Advance:
To help everyone know what to expect, send out a schedule of the virtual gathering a few days before the event. Include key details such as:
Start and end times.
Planned activities (e.g., gift opening, games, or meal times).
Breaks or opportunities to step away if needed.
This pre-planning allows neurodivergent family members to familiarize themselves with the event structure, reducing anxiety and making the experience more manageable.
2. Choose a Platform with Accessibility Features:
Select a virtual meeting platform that offers accessibility features like captioning, adjustable audio settings, and screen-sharing capabilities. Consider using Zoom, Google Meet, or other services that let you customize the experience for different sensory needs.
3. Create a Sensory-Friendly Environment:
Encourage family members to set up their personal spaces in a way that feels comfortable. Suggest using dim lighting, familiar scents, cozy blankets, or noise-canceling headphones. By creating a sensory-friendly environment, everyone can enjoy the gathering without feeling overwhelmed.
Incorporating Structure into Online Celebrations
Virtual events can sometimes feel unstructured, which can be challenging for neurodivergent individuals. Building a sense of predictability and routine into the virtual gathering can make it a more enjoyable experience.
1. Start with a Grounding Activity:
Kick off the virtual gathering with a calming activity, such as a group breathing exercise or a shared sensory experience. For example, ask everyone to hold a comforting object or share a soothing image on their screens. This helps set a relaxed tone for the event and provides a gentle transition into the festivities.
2. Break the Event into Manageable Segments:
Long, unstructured video calls can lead to sensory overload. Divide the gathering into smaller, distinct segments, such as:
A welcome chat.
An activity (e.g., a holiday-themed game or craft).
A meal or snack break.
A gift-opening session.
Offer breaks between each segment, allowing everyone to step away, reset, and return when they’re ready. This structure mirrors the kind of calming, sensory-friendly environments we aim to create at vips, where everyone has the space to engage at their own pace.
3. Use Visual Timers:
To help manage time during the virtual celebration, use a visual timer on the screen. This lets participants know when a segment is ending and provides a sense of control over transitions. It’s a simple yet effective tool to reduce anxiety and maintain focus during the event.
Managing Sensory Sensitivities During Video Calls
While virtual gatherings offer the benefit of celebrating from the comfort of home, they can still present sensory challenges. Here are some strategies to manage these potential stressors:
1. Encourage Audio and Video Options:
Allow participants to choose whether they want to keep their cameras on or off and whether to use audio. Some family members may prefer to listen without speaking, while others might want to participate visually but keep their microphones muted. Providing these options creates a more flexible and inclusive environment.
2. Limit Background Noise:
Encourage participants to minimize background noise during the call. For those with noise sensitivities, suggest using noise-canceling headphones or reducing volume to a comfortable level. You could also designate specific times for conversation, allowing for quieter moments throughout the gathering.
3. Offer a “Quiet Room” Option:
Consider setting up a secondary virtual room as a "quiet space" where participants can go if they need a break from the main call. This mimics the concept of a sensory-friendly room in physical spaces, providing an area to relax and recharge.
Adapting Activities for Virtual Gatherings
The holiday season is about connecting and sharing experiences. Adapting traditional activities for a virtual setting ensures everyone can participate in ways that are enjoyable and accessible.
1. Virtual Gift Opening:
Gift exchanges can be a joyful part of the holiday, but they can also be overwhelming. Consider a virtual gift-opening session where each person has a designated turn. This structured approach reduces the sensory load and makes it easier for neurodivergent participants to engage at their own pace. Suggest that gifts be opened slowly, with breaks in between to enjoy the experience fully.
2. Holiday Crafts and Games:
Incorporate sensory-friendly crafts and games that can be done from home, such as making paper snowflakes, creating sensory jars, or playing online bingo. Share simple instructions and materials lists in advance, allowing families to prepare for the activity.
3. Shared Cooking or Baking:
Cooking or baking together virtually can be a comforting way to bond. Choose simple, sensory-friendly recipes that everyone can follow along with. Remember to highlight the textures, smells, and visuals of the ingredients to create a multi-sensory experience.
Building Inclusive Spaces Online and Offline
At vips, our mission is to create spaces—whether physical or virtual—that cater to the diverse needs of neurodivergent individuals and their families. This holiday season, as many of us turn to virtual gatherings, we see an opportunity to promote inclusivity and connection in new ways.
By implementing these tips and adapting celebrations to a virtual format, we can foster environments where everyone feels valued and supported, embodying the same principles we strive to bring to our future play spaces. We invite you to join us in our mission to build a more inclusive community, both online and offline.
If you believe in the work we're doing at vips and want to support our journey, consider donating, volunteering, following us on social media, or sharing our resource center with those who may benefit from our content.