The holidays are full of excitement—family gatherings, delicious food, and travel adventures! But all that change in routine can sometimes feel overwhelming for kids. With a little planning, you can help your child enjoy a calm, confident, and connection-filled Thanksgiving!
💛 Prepare for Changes in Routine
Talk about what to expect: Go over the day’s plan together—who you’ll see, where you’ll go, and what you’ll do. You can even show photos of relatives or use a simple visual schedule.
Keep familiar touchpoints: Try to maintain a few comforting parts of your child’s normal routine—like a morning snack, a favorite bedtime book, or quiet playtime.
Pack familiar comforts: Bring along a favorite toy, blanket, or fidget to help them feel secure in new environments.
🍽️ Set Up for a Successful Thanksgiving Dinner
Create a “quiet corner”: Whether at home or a relative’s house, designate a calm space for breaks if your child needs to recharge. Sometimes we could all use a breather.
Offer choices: Let your child decide between two foods or where to sit—giving small choices helps them feel in control and less like things are happening to them but happening with them.
Practice conversation skills: Before dinner, role-play and script greetings and phrases. It’s a great way to build confidence for social interactions and ease anxiety.
Engage the senses: Talk about what they might see, smell, and hear at dinner so new experiences don’t feel surprising.
🥕 Tips for Picky Eaters & Sensory-Friendly Feeding
Holiday meals can be tricky for children with picky eating habits or sensory sensitivities. Here are a few strategies when it comes to feeding:
Preview the menu together: Show photos or look at the food in their serving dishes, talk through what foods will be at the meal. If possible, involve your child in preparing or serving a familiar dish—they’ll be more likely to try it!
Keep “safe foods”: Include preferred foods alongside new foods so your child has something comfortable to fall back on if new foods feel too overwhelming. This also helps the plate feel predictable and comfortable
Use a “no thank you” plate: Encourage exploring new foods by touching, smelling, or licking before deciding—no pressure to eat it.
Mind the textures and smells: Strong scents or mixed textures can be challenging; offering foods separately or in small portions can help. Use textures they already enjoy as a bridge. If they enjoy mashed potatoes try offering mashed sweet potatoes or pumpkin puree to try. Match similar flavor profiles as well, if your child likes cranberry juice, they might enjoy the sweet tang of cranberry sauce.
Model curiosity, not pressure: Try new foods together, use fun descriptions (“It’s sweet like applesauce!”), and celebrate even tiny steps toward trying something new. Celebrate exploration not just eating: smelling, touching, tasting new foods all count as progress!
Honor their limits: If your child becomes distressed, step back and let them enjoy what feels comfortable. Mealtime should be about connection, not stress!
🚗 If You’re Traveling for the Holiday
Plan for comfort: Bring familiar snacks, sensory items, and quiet-time activities like coloring, headphones, or audiobooks. Wear comfortable clothes for travel and a change of clothes for your destination.
Build in breaks: On long drives, plan short stops to stretch and reset—movement breaks can help regulate focus and emotions
Talk through transitions: Use phrases like, “First we drive to Grandma’s, then we’ll play and eat dinner,” to help your child anticipate what’s next.
The key is balance—keeping enough familiarity to feel safe while embracing the fun and flexibility of the season. With preparation, patience, and a few sensory-friendly strategies, your Thanksgiving can be full of joy, connection, and meaningful moments!
Contributions by Richard Del Rosario OTR/L, c/ASI
