Here we are at that time of the year when we ask: “What gift should I get for my child with CVI?” This can be a heavy question for many CVI families. We all have emotional connections to particular holidays or birthdays and know how they should look. Our preconceived notions need to be adjusted when raising a child with CVI, with a different normal.
CVI parents know this. We are used to changing how we go about life’s daily tasks, and adjusting how we do the holidays is no different. So how do we make holidays more CVI-friendly? How do we reinvent holidays to celebrate our kids with CVI and all their gloriousness?
Difficulty with visual recognition means that our kids with CVI may be hesitant to try something new or resist the idea of playing with anything that is not familiar. This is hard, especially when curiosity and exploration of new places and items are the foundation of development. When other children burst with excitement as they complete their wish list of gifts and party themes, it’s easy to get discouraged about what the holiday experience will be like for your child with CVI.
The newness of gifts and visual clutter of too many gifts at once are hard, as are the fine motor skills of opening gifts. We’ll keep gifts unwrapped and give one at a time gradually, leading up to Christmas.
CVI Parent
Visual curiosity is all about incidental learning, distance viewing, and access to the full environment. Kids with CVI may miss the visual cues we strongly associate with holidays. All the decorations on people’s houses, in stores, or at school get us thinking about a holiday experience and what we look forward to. Even the smells trigger strong emotional memories. These sensory-based anticipatory cues need to be directly described and taught to our kids with CVI.
Visual clutter is a big one with holidays. If there are new items that your child doesn’t have a visual memory for, then it all adds to the clutter or complexity of the environment and array. Think about a stack of gifts, a table full of holiday foods, or a room with new decorations.
Difficulty with sensory integration can make a child with CVI adversely react to friends and family gatherings or even a sibling screaming with excitement while opening gifts. Holiday celebrations can be chaotic for kids with CVI, even when celebrating with immediate family. The new routine and tasks can raise the level of anxiety. Also, for many holidays, we gather together over a meal. And big gatherings during mealtime can be extremely challenging for some kids with CVI. Learn why it’s challenging for some kids with CVI to eat and fully access mealtime.
We’ve skipped extended family gatherings for years. The travel and overwhelming nature of large groups of people make it really hard for my child with CVI. This year, we’re embracing dinner at home, which likely includes my child’s favorite meal.
CVI Parent
It’s essential to take a whole-child approach. You know what your child loves, what gets them excited or calm, and their triggers. From there, think about your child’s CVI visual behaviors and what access looks like (which may include auditory, kinesthetic, tactile, and visual approaches).
Building excitement around something new takes work for a child with CVI. Opening a wrapped present may be difficult or not ideal for your child to experience their gift for the first time. Here are some ideas for how to show your child their new item.
Have a joyous and safe holiday season and new year!
CVI parents, how have you made the holidays accessible for your child? Or what other questions do you have about gift-giving or celebrations? Join the CVI Now Parents Group to be a part of the conversation.