Christmas tips for children with a hearing impairment

 

– Updated for 2024 –

 

The festive period is an exciting time for everyone, but it’s important to remember that it can be more challenging for some. Being hearing impaired can make certain aspects of the festive season more difficult—such as attending a Christmas carol concert or visiting Santa’s Grotto.

While your child may feel comfortable in your usual family environment, the festive season often means socialising with extended family and friends in noisy and busy settings. This can be unsettling for any child, especially for a child with a hearing impairment who may find themselves feeling left out. Below, we share suggestions to ensure every child feels included and happy this festive season.

 

Talk to friends and family ahead of time

Speaking to friends and family before gatherings can help ensure they take steps to include your child in the celebrations. While not everyone may know British Sign Language (BSL) or Makaton, even learning to fingerspell their name or a few festive signs can mean a lot to a child with a hearing impairment and make them feel included.

If more than one person is involved in the conversation, remind everyone to take turns speaking. This makes it easier for a child with a hearing impairment to follow along, and for parents or siblings to facilitate communication when needed. If your child is able to lip-read, ask others to keep their mouths visible by not covering them while speaking. Simple efforts like avoiding shouting, which can be uncomfortable for hearing aid users and appear aggressive when lip-reading, go a long way to making the environment more comfortable.

 

 

Make sure your child has an active role in the Christmas preparations

Involving your child in Christmas preparations can help them feel more included and excited about the festive season. Talk to your child ahead of time, letting them know what will happen over the Christmas period—especially if there are lots of different plans.

Encourage their participation in activities like decorating, baking, shopping, planning the menu, or wrapping presents (based on their age and ability).

Use visual aids or a written schedule to help everyone understand what’s happening each day. This approach ensures that your child feels involved and allows them to feel more secure, especially during a potentially busy and overwhelming time like Christmas

 

Inclusive Christmas Traditions

Many families enjoy attending carol concerts or going carol-singing, which can be difficult for children with hearing impairments. Consider attending an inclusive carol concert that features BSL or Makaton. This will allow your entire family to enjoy and participate in singing your favourite Christmas songs, making the experience enjoyable for everyone.

If you plan to visit Santa’s Grotto, research ahead to find one that caters to children with hearing impairments. A Santa who can communicate in sign language or has support available for signing can make all the difference in ensuring your child feels fully included and represented in the excitement of Christmas.

 

 

Seating Arrangements

Seating arrangements during festive gatherings can also play a big role in inclusion. It’s helpful for children with a hearing impairment to be able to see everyone’s faces to lip-read or communicate via signing. Seating them centrally or at a round table can provide better visibility of all faces, making it easier for them to follow conversations.

Turn off background music during meals and try to minimise other noises—this makes it easier for a child with a hearing impairment to communicate. Also, ensure that the room is well-lit to facilitate lip-reading. If you’re visiting a public venue, request a table in a quiet, well-lit area to allow for better communication and minimise distractions.

 

 

Closed Captioning on Christmas Films

Watching Christmas films together can be a magical family experience. Ensure that closed captions or subtitles are turned on so that everyone can enjoy the movie.

Consider films like Raymond Briggs’ “The Snowman,” which is a beautiful classic that doesn’t rely on speech and can be enjoyed by children with hearing impairments.

 

 

Creative activities

 

There are numerous sensory-friendly activities that the entire family can enjoy. For example:

• Make Your Own Festive Play Dough
  With just flour, oil, and bicarbonate of soda, you can create a fun play dough mix at home. Add ginger, cinnamon, or glitter for a festive gingerbread theme, making it interactive and engaging for children with its different smells, colours, textures, and shiny appearance.

 

• Sensory Stocking Guessing Game
  Fill a Christmas stocking with different items and have your children guess what each item is by feeling them. This sensory game is great for providing an even playing field, as everyone relies on their sense of touch and curiosity rather than visual or auditory cues.

 

Christmas is a time for family and friends to come together and make memories. By taking steps to make your celebrations inclusive for everyone, including children with hearing impairments, you can ensure that it will be a magical and special time for the whole family.

Try some of our tips to help you plan ahead and create activities that will include every member of your family. Sometimes, all it takes is a few small adjustments to the traditional activities we know and love—resulting in beautiful new traditions for your family to cherish for years to come.