Tips for Going to the Movies with a Special Needs Child. A great way to start the Holiday Weekend!

5/23/2019

Tips for Going to the Movies with a Special Needs Child
Let’s face it. Summer is not always filled with all sunny, beautiful days and when you live in Chicago, there’s bound to be a few rainy days. You’ll want to go to the movies but…how exactly do you go about that with a special needs child? Don’t worry. There’s lots you can do to make this a fun experience for your family!

Get Your ABA Team Involved!
We all wish we could take our therapists everywhere with us. I mean, they are amazing, but that’s just not realistic. However, you can ask for their help in the background for family outings. When it comes to movie outings, some of the things they can help with are social stories, visuals, and waiting programs.

Ask your team to create a social story for going to the movies that you can all review with your child.
Waiting is a part of almost every activity you will do with your child out in the community. Your ABA team can help work on waiting to avoid meltdowns while waiting in line for popcorn or waiting for the movie to start.
Get your team to create some visuals, such as a wait card and a “First__, Then__” visual. These can come in handy to give your child a visual to rely on when words alone are not enough.

Role Play Social Interactions
During an outing, social interactions are bound to happen. This can be a barrier to the special need child so it pays to practice! For some children, they may require a simple script, but for others, you can incorporate various pretend play options.

Use a social story and act out all the steps in the story together with your child at home. This can help you figure out what more needs to be worked on before your outing.
Look up “going to the movies” on YouTube. You can easily find short video clips about going to the movies to review at home.
Take a trip to the theater before your big day! Walk around the lobby, say hi to the ticket taker, go to the bathrooms, and explore the arcade! This can help your child know what to expect and you can continue to role play at the theater as you go through all the motions.

Sensory-Overload Management
This is one of the bigger obstacles to going to the movies with a special needs child. Movies are a HUGE sensory experience but this can be managed with a few thoughtful tips.

Be prepared with noise-cancelling headphones and sunglasses. This can help block out some of the over-stimulating lights and sounds at the theater.
Bring fidgets and special comforting objects. Sensory toolkits can be easily made and taken along to the movies! Pack a small bag of fidgets, toys, and perhaps a blanket for your child to be comforted by in the theater.
When push comes to shove, it’s ok to decide that you need to go to a special needs friendly movie event in order to make this outing a success. Look into sensory friendly movie showings such as AMC Sensory Friendly Films.

Have a Good Time and Celebrate Success!!!!
Going to the movies can be a real challenge with a special needs child, but it doesn’t have to be a forbidden experience. With some planning and special accommodations, a trip to the movies can be a real breeze. Oh! And don’t forget to celebrate a successful outing with your child after the movie! Perhaps you can stop and get an ice cream on your ride home!
Guide by Ms. Michelle, RBT

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Tips for Going to the Movies with a Special Needs Child. A great way to start the Holiday Weekend!

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