We are now deep in the long school holiday break in Aotearoa. With sunny days, rainy days, full houses, less routine, parents juggling work and high expectations for “fun;” many families, including mine, find the holidays both exciting and exhausting.
For neurodivergent children, this season can bring sensory overload, emotional dysregulation, and burnout. And when one child is struggling, the whole household feels it.
A few simple sensory-aware adjustments can make the holidays calmer, more enjoyable, and more inclusive—for everyone.
Below are some sensory suggestions for busy homes and real kiwi families.
While holidays are about freedom, total unpredictability can be stressful—especially for neurodivergent children.
Try a soft daily rhythm that looks something like this, instead: Wake up, Eat, Move, Rest, Eat, Play, Wind down, Eat
You don’t need times—just a familiar flow. You could use a simple visual (whiteboard, a piece of paper on the fridge, or pictures) to show the shape of the day. This helps children feel safe without removing flexibility.
Our homes tend to get louder, messier, and fuller over the holidays. All children—especially sensory-sensitive tamariki—need a place to decompress.
A sensory retreat is a space is for regulation, not isolation. It doesn’t need to be fancy, it just needs to work for your whare and for your whānau. It might look like:
Beach trips, barbecues, playdates, and whānau gatherings are fun—but also sensory heavy.
For every big outing, plan a low-demand recovery window:
You can think of it as sensory budgeting—you can’t spend energy without allowing time to recharge.
“Go and play outside” doesn’t work for all tamariki. Instead, offer different sensory input options:
Let your children show you what helps their bodies feel “just right.”
Holiday eating often means:
For sensory-sensitive eaters, this can be overwhelming. Try these strategies:
Transitions don’t stop being hard just because something is exciting. You can help by:
Not every day needs to be magical.
Not every child needs to be happy all the time.
Not every activity needs to be picture perfect.
When adults lower expectations, children feel safer—and regulation becomes easier.
Whānau and Caregivers - your nervous systems matter! Try to:
You can’t pour from an empty cup—and children co-regulate with the adults around them.
The summer holidays don’t need to be perfect to be meaningful.
By creating sensory-aware environments, flexible routines, and compassionate expectations, we can support neurodivergent children—and indeed all children - and make the holidays more peaceful for the whole whānau.