Lights, music and crowded rooms are often staples of the holiday season, but for children with sensory sensitivities, those same traditions can turn from festive to overwhelming.
Looking to make Christmas activities accessible without the overstimulation, The Rowdy Foundation is hosting two sensory-friendly events next week to give kids the chance to celebrate in a space designed for their needs.“We try to create those environments for them, so they feel comfortable,” Ferguson told The Dispatch on Thursday. “Whether your child is overstimulated or not, they have a place to go, and they get to do all the things that everyone’s doing. They just have their own space to do it.”
Activities start with a sensory friendly performance of “Elf Jr. The Musical” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, produced by Golden Triangle Theatre.
Garrett Torbert, GTT executive director, said this is the second year the theater has worked with the foundation to perform a sensory friendly show. With such positive feedback from parents after last year’s “Frozen Jr.” performance, he knew the theatre needed to participate again this year.
“We thought, because it was a Christmas show, that ‘Elf’ would fit really well with getting kids who may have sensitivities to want to come and see it and have an environment where they can feel comfortable and be able to move around and stuff,” he said. “… I chose ‘Elf’ because it was maybe a familiar show to a lot of people.”
For the sensory friendly performance, the cast won’t use microphones, and house speakers will be shut off to limit noise. Lighting will also be limited, Torbert said. Children attending will have special seating and are free to move around during the show.
Anyone interested in attending the 6 p.m. show Wednesday can pay $5 to register online at getrowdy.org. Ferguson said the $5 deposit is solely to keep tabs on how many people have signed up for the event and will be refunded.
“My hope is that it does continue to grow, but at the same time too, I would never want it to be this huge event because that’s the whole reason why we’re doing it,” Torbert said. “… We want to make it to where it’s not overwhelming or it’s over stimulating.”
On Dec. 12, Ferguson said The Rowdy Foundation will host its annual Sensory Santa event from 5-8 p.m. at 521 Main St., where parents can reserve a private, stress-free visit with Santa for their kids while avoiding the usual long lines and large crowds.
“They have their own designated time, and we have a little room they go in with Santa,” she said. “Outside, we have activities – different sensory bins and bounce houses and things – for them to do while they wait their turn.”
Registration for the event is open on getrowdy.org. Likewise, Ferguson said the $5 deposit requested for the reservation will be refunded after checking in at the event. Anyone unable to pay the deposit can email Ferguson at [email protected] to register.
“Everything is free. We would love for them to join us,” Ferguson said. “It is a fun time of year, and we want everybody to be able to participate in everything that they imagine for their kids or what their kids want to do.”
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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