How Party Suppliers Can Make Parties More Accessible for Kids with Complex Needs.
For children with complex needs, attending a party can be a challenge, however, there is lots that we can do to help. Just being aware of these challenges and taking a few small steps to help support them, can really make a huge difference. I’ve spoken to mums, teachers, party suppliers and specialists to come up with some top tips on how party suppliers can make their parties more inclusive.
5 Top Tips to Make Your Parties More Inclusive
Understanding Neurodiversity and Inclusion Strategies
An inclusive party means that children of all abilities can participate and have fun. In order for party suppliers to gain an understanding of neurodiversity and the different ways to accommodate children with special needs, it can be really helpful to work closely with parents and caregivers. It sounds obvious, but parents know their kids best, so it’s a good place to start in getting to know a child’s likes and dislikes. Understanding an individual child’s needs and preferences, and tailoring your party plan to make the party experience comfortable and enjoyable for the child will help them to get the most from the party and will also make things run more smoothly.
There are also a variety of courses and workshops that focus on neurodiversity and inclusive practices. For example; learning Makaton sign language can help communication with nonverbal children and create a more inclusive environment. Additionally, there are courses on social skills development or autism accommodations, which will provide tools and knowledge to make parties more welcoming for all children.
Preparing for an Accessible Celebration
Preparation is essential when planning an inclusive party. Providing a schedule and photos of the venue and entertainment can help the child prepare for what’s to come. This is often called a ‘social story’ and it can actually be helpful to all children in order to understand what to expect at the party.
If a party supplier knows that there is a child(ren) with complex needs at the party, it’s also a great idea to make any other suppliers and staff at the party aware of the child’s needs too, to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Modifying Activities for Sensory-Friendly Celebrations
Children with special needs can be particularly sensitive to their surroundings, so it can be helpful to consider how children process information differently when planning activities. Some children may be sensitive to loud noises or overstimulation, while others may have a need to touch everything. By adapting the activities to accommodate these needs, suppliers can help to create a sensory-friendly celebration.
Support WITH Social Skills
Children with special needs can often find birthday parties very difficult to navigate and they can be overwhelming. With the sensory overload it is likely that there will be a reduction in their ability to maintain any social expectations. Party suppliers can help with this by including the child in the planning process by giving them choices and asking for any special requests in advance. Using visual aids, such as a design board, can help nonverbal children communicate their preferences.
Accommodations for All
Accommodations may include providing a quiet space for children who become overstimulated, offering alternative activities for children who may not be able to participate in certain games or activities, and using visual aids to help children understand the schedule and expectations of the party. It’s important to remember that every child is unique, so where possible, try to understand and accommodate their individual needs. If it’s likely that the child(ren) in question are going to find the party environment a little overwhelming, it might be a nice idea to arrive a bit early or stay on late to spend a little quiet time with the child, to paint their face without an audience, or give them a private magic show, depending on what you do as and entertainer.
It would be lovely to think that all children will get to enjoy the parties they attend and with a few accommodations, there’s no reason to think this won’t be the case. By taking steps to understand neurodiversity, modifying activities where possible and including the child in the planning process, we can all create more accessible parties that everyone will enjoy and remember! I hope that the information above proves to be useful. You might also find my blog posts on Making Birthday Parties More Inclusive and Party Suppliers Offering Inclusive Parties.
I’d love to hear from you if you have more ideas to add to this, or stories to share about your inclusive parties; you can email me on hello@icecreamandjelly.com.
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I would like to thank everyone that contributed their stories, experiences and expertise to this blog: Faiza (Mum), Steph (Teacher), Lisa (Autism Consultant) Thalia (Nurse and Mrs Miles Magic), The Team (Little Gym), Naomi (Jigsaw Parties), Daniel (Play House Parties), Sarah (Kingswood Shetlands and Friends) and Jade (Jelly Jade).
