UCSB Graduate Explains How to Ease Sensory overload During Holiday Season

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - Kids can count down the days to winter break and still miss the rhythm of a regular school day. Add a noisy room or a last-minute change in plans, and the holidays can feel like a lot.

Dr. Suzy Gray, a retired neuropsychologist and UC Santa Barbara graduate, is encouraging families to take some pressure off the holidays. A short fuse can be one sign a child is overwhelmed, especially when they’re having trouble explaining what’s bothering them.

Making room for a break can be as simple as setting aside a quiet spot during a family visit. A heads-up about a change in plans can also give a child time to adjust.

Gray explores some of those feelings in two children’s books. Lily and the Fairy Cake follows a young fairy learning to understand her sensory sensitivities. Teddy the Bear focuses on childhood anxiety and the worries kids can struggle to put into words.