5 Helpful Tips to Keep Your Special Needs Kid Safe this Holiday Season

By Jessica Gutierrez

Can you feel the cheer? Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza and even Festivus is right around the corner. But before you deck out your living room with candles, lights or throw a Yule log in the fireplace, take some time to consider the safety of your little ones. 

Whether your kids have Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD’s) or not, make sure your house is hazard-proof for everyone. Here are some tips to ensure a scrape, burn and bruise-free holiday season.

Tip #1: The Christmas Tree

The staple of any Christmas is a tree placed in the family home. Keep a few things in mind: if it’s a live tree, then keep it watered to prevent the leaves from drying and catching fire from a nearby candle or light spark. If you’re buying a plastic tree, only purchase one that explicitly says “Fire Resistant.”

Secondly, make sure the tree is secured to walls using wires; this might seem like over-kill, but accidents are prone to happen, especially with kids or pets around.

Tip #2: Candle Safety

Candles are a must for this time of year regardless of your denomination, but third-degree burns and a singed living room is not. Place candles high enough to avoid them from getting knocked over by tiny hands, and to keep them away from any tinsel, or wrapping paper. Try to get scentless candles to avoid setting off sensory issues if you have a child with autism.

Household décor stores are stocked with faux candles. They are more realistic than ever. Some even come scented. Perhaps this is something one should consider for maximum holiday safety.

Tip #3: Keep away from the fire

There’s always something exciting about lighting up a fire for your family, but needless to say, there are an array of safety precautions that should take place. This can’t be stressed enough: keep a screen on your fireplace to protect your entire family from burns. Secondly, if you’re planning on turning on your fireplace, take off all decorations from your mantle to keep the fire INSIDE the fireplace. As always, keep all flammable items away from the fireplace when it’s lit.

Tip #4: All the pretty lights

A house is nearly naked without the festive lights, but surprisingly enough this is also a safety hazard. Some kids on the spectrum are prone to seizures, so if your child falls in this category, nix all flickering lights. Remember all lights have the potential to short out causing sparks, or even fires. At the end of each night, turn off all holiday lights to keep your electric bill down and your family safe.

Tip #5: Make a plan

Whether you’re going out or staying home, always make a plan with your child. If you’re going to the mall, let them know what to do if they get lost and make them repeat it back to you until it’s fully embedded in their mind. The same goes for home emergencies such as a house fire. Instruct them on the family’s course of action and set a designated meeting point. Practice at least twice a year.

Have a happy and safe holiday!