Ah, the holiday season—a time for warmth, joy, and those peculiar yet heartwarming family traditions. As an autism mom, I’ve come to appreciate the quirks that make our holiday traditions uniquely ours. Let me walk you through our special brand of fun family activities for the holidays with autism #AutismHolidayFun! 🎄

Autism Holiday Fun: Crafting the Cradle-to-Cross Wreath 🕯️

Our holiday journey kicks off with the Cradle-to-Cross Wreath from The Keeping Company https://thekeepingcompany.com/products/cradle-to-cross-wreath-cherry. This beautiful wooden wreath, adorned with advent scripture decorations, serves as our visual guide to the story of Christ’s birth. We light the candle, decorate, and read the scripture, creating an intentional and meaningful way to keep company with Jesus Christ throughout the season. It’s not just a wreath; it’s a journey through faith, and Jacob enjoys every step!

As Jacob’s mom it’s important that he understands why the season is important to us. This visual can be included as fun family activities for the holidays with autism that helps teach a meaningful family tradition showing Christ’s birth.

Painting Ceramic Christmas Trees: Autism Holiday Fun! 🎨

Remember those ceramic Christmas trees from yesteryears? Well, we decided to revive that crafty tradition! Making our own ceramic Christmas tree is a joyful activity, and the mess is part of the fun. I remember doing this with my mom when I was growing up, so I thought Jacob would enjoy it too. You can buy one, sure, but where’s the fun in that? Check out Greg’s Pottery on Instagram for some inspiration and unleash your inner artist! If that isn’t autism holiday fun, I don’t know what is!  👉  https://www.instagram.com/gregspottery/?hl=en

Creating Wooden Garland Strands: The Macrame Masterpiece! 🧶

This year, we decided to spruce up our tree with DIY wooden garland strands. We ordered macrame beads from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZYG45YQ?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1, and let me tell you, it’s been a hit! Jake’s always been proud of his work, and the tree looks fantastic. It’s amazing how something so simple can add a sprinkle of magic to the holiday spirit.

Baking Cookies:

Ah, the smell of freshly baked cookies—nothing screams “holidays” like it! Jake loves my homemade cookies, but when Christmas rolls around, it’s all about those Pillsbury Christmas-shaped cookies. You know, the ones with the commercials that get to Jake’s heart? They remind him of his favorite holiday movies, and we indulge all month long. Who can resist Rudolph and Charlie Brown, anyway? This on is definitely autism holiday fun!

Movie Nights: Nostalgia on the Screen 📽️

Speaking of movies, Jake has a thing for the classics. We’re talking Charlie Brown Christmas, A Year Without a Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Santa Claus 2, and Jingle All the Way. We watch these films throughout December; the highlight is the day we put up the tree and decorate the house. It’s like our own little Hollywood screening! 

Amazon Adventures: The Quest for Holiday Movies 🛒

Now, if you want to see Jake light up like a Christmas tree, just let him show you the movies he wants on Amazon. He’s particular, so I have him pull them up to show me exactly. He’s been making his Christmas list right after his birthday in August for years. It’s a tradition! One year, he even asked for a surprise birthday party. Autism throws surprises at us all the time, but that one took the cake, and my best friend made it happen.

Chloe’s Adorable Enthusiasm: Our Furry Sidekick 🐾

Oh, and how could I forget Chloe? She’s our furry sidekick and an essential part of our holiday crew. Jake thinks she’s the bee’s knees in her little Christmas PJs. When she gets her Bark Box with super squeak toys, Jake always has a trick up his sleeve. He grabs a toy, throws it in our room, and Chloe falls for it every time. 😊 Sure, her enthusiasm might annoy Jake occasionally, but she’s all part of the family fun.

Capturing Memories: Yearly Scrapbooks for the Win! 📷

Finally, we wrap up the season by capturing these magical moments in our yearly scrapbooks. Jacob loves them, and they’re not just photo books—they’re memory books. We look back, ask questions, and get ideas for the next year. Sometimes, Jacob even pulls them out to remind me of an upcoming holiday. You can make your own or order them from Shutterfly or Google. https://photos.google.com/photobooks

So, there you have it—our holiday traditions, fun family activities for the holidays with autism. They may be quirky, messy, and unpredictable, but they’re uniquely ours, and they make our holiday season merry and bright. Remember, it‘s not about perfection; it’s about creating memories and cherishing them forever. #AutismHolidayFun 🎁🌟🎄

One last thing: MINDSET, Don’t forget, maintaining a positive mindset during the holidays is essential. For more tips on how to do this, you can check out our previous post, Autism and the Holidays: Shaping the Season with a Positive Mindset.

If you want more tips check out the ebook!👉  https://educatingjacob.myflodesk.com/tfgvkumbkg

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