Holiday Activities for Brainwave Families
The holiday season is a wonderful time to create special memories as a family, but it can also bring unique challenges for our Brainwave Families.
We’ve put together a range of joyful activities, to ensure your family can enjoy the season at your own pace and with options to modify crafts to suit individual abilities and preferences.
1. Festive Colouring Pages
Nothing sparks creativity and calm quite like colouring. We’ve created various holiday-themed colouring pages for your family to enjoy. These pages are designed for a range of abilities, with simple patterns and soothing themes to more complex scenes for mindful colouring.
Download our free colouring pages here
Download some baubles to colour and decorate for your tree here
2. Make Your Own Wreath
Crafting a wreath is a tactile and engaging activity that can involve lots of family members, or be a special tradition for just a few. Gather materials like paper, foam, ribbons, or real foliage, and let your creativity shine!
For an easy option, download our Decorate Your Own Wreath template below, and let your child’s imagination run wild, or complete the task together in a way that suits your child’s ability. Pencils, crayons, painted hand prints, stickers, glitter and more - there is no right or wrong way to decorate a wreath.
3. What’s in Your Snowglobe?
This interactive activity combines imagination and sensory play. Using our printable template, your child can design their snowglobe, choosing what to place inside - a snowman, a beach scene, a Christmas tree or even their favourite animal.
For added sensory fun, consider creating a real snow globe using a clear jar (glass, or plastic for added durability), water, glitter, and small waterproof decorations - remember to seal the lid well!
4. Scent Sensory Activity
The scents of the holidays—like vanilla, cinnamon, pine, or peppermint—can evoke a sense of comfort and joy. Create a sensory experience by introducing holiday scents in a gentle and controlled way.
Here’s an idea:
Fill small fabric pouches with cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices, or pine needles.
Encourage your child to explore these scents by gently squeezing the pouches or holding them to their nose.
Use this as an opportunity to share stories or memories associated with the scents.
Sensory activities can be incredibly grounding. For more ideas, check out this guide to scent-based activities: [Insert link to an external sensory activity resource].
5. Storytelling with Music and Gentle Sensory Elements
For children who are wheelchair-bound or profoundly disabled, engaging multiple senses in a calm and soothing way can be both meaningful and enjoyable. Here’s a simple storytelling idea:
Create a Holiday Storytelling Box: Fill a box with items that represent parts of a holiday story (e.g., soft fabric for snow, a pinecone for the forest, a cinnamon stick for the scent of holiday baking).
Play Gentle Music: Choose a slow, soothing holiday tune to accompany the story. Our wonderful friend Bailey Pickles has just released a beautiful Christmas EP which you might enjoy
Interactive Participation: Use the items in the box to gently touch or bring scents close to your child to enhance their sensory experience.
This activity doesn’t require active participation and can be tailored to meet your child’s comfort level. It’s a wonderful way to bond and create joyful holiday memories.
6. Craft Your Gift Wrap and Cards
Handmade gift wrapping and cards can make any gift extra special and provide a meaningful activity for the family.
Decorate Gift Tags: Download our printable gift tags and let your child personalise them with paint, colouring, stickers, or glitter.
Creative Wrapping Paper: Use large sheets of paper to create unique wrapping paper by stamping handprints or fingerprints in festive patterns. This activity promotes creativity and is adaptable for children with limited dexterity.
Holiday Cards: Help your child create their own cards by pressing their handprints onto a blank card and decorating around it with markers, paint, or stickers.
These crafts allow for creative expression while producing heartfelt, personal touches for your gifts and they can be modified to suit individual abilities and preferences.
7. Holiday Activities Without Flashing Lights
For children who are sensitive to flashing lights, the holidays can be triggering or feel overwhelming. Here are a few family-friendly ideas to enjoy the festive season, while avoiding sensory overload:
Outdoor Nature Walks: Take a walk in the park or visit a garden decorated with non-flashing holiday lights. Look for sensory-friendly quiet hours at public holiday displays and for a list of accessible nature walks across Australia, click here.
Decorating Gingerbread Cookies: A hands-on, edible craft! Use colored icing and simple designs to keep the activity fun and calming.
DIY Movie Night: Pick a favorite holiday movie that avoids intense visual effects, and create a cozy viewing setup with blankets, low lighting and snacks.
Every family is unique, and finding what brings your family joy during this time is the most important tradition of all.
We’d love to see your family’s holiday creations! Share your photos with us on social media using the hashtag #BrainwaveHolidayJoy.
Happy holidays from all of us at Brainwave Australia!