Bonfire Night is a part of the British calendar that has evolved far beyond its original purpose and now signals the beginning of winter, and many of us love nothing more than huddling around a bonfire and gazing at the impressive firework displays turning the night sky into a colourful canvas.

But the loud bangs, crackles and pops of the fireworks and crowds of unfamiliar people can feel overwhelming for many children, particularly those with sensory processing disorder, autism or other conditions which make large crowds and loud noises difficult to manage – often resulting in anxious feelings and stress which can trigger meltdowns.

However, below there are some simple tips that can help make the night fun for all the family.

First, talk to your child about what will happen during your bonfire night celebration so you can all agree a plan and stick to it. So they know what to expect you could also show them videos or photos of fireworks or include a social story – which is a short outline of an activity or situation that can help children better understand what will happen.

If you want to visit a planned public display, then noise cancelling headphones can help drown out the sounds of the fireworks, but you could also have them listen to their own music through headphones or an audio book they enjoy, so they are distracted by something that helps them ignore all the outside stimuli.

Make sure you have a plentiful supply of their favourite snacks and drinks and that any comfort item they have is with you, or that they have a fidget item to keep them distracted.

If crowds are something your child feels uncomfortable with then plan to watch the fireworks from a distance, if possible, this way you still get to see the fireworks, but the sounds are lessened, and you won’t have such a busy type of crowd to contend with. You could even try watching from the car.

Instead of going to a public display you could also choose to have your own display at home – so you can decide how many you set off and what you set off, so you could opt for low noise fireworks such as Catherine Wheels and Traffic Light fireworks, which emit low whizzes and pops – or just have a few sparklers.

If this still feels a little too much for your child, you an always watch a video of display – instead make firework pictures or paper firework decorations to put up around your home or make firework cakes to enjoy.

But, whatever you do, it’s important to remember the safety rule, both for yourself and for your children. You can find advice from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents here.

For more tips about how you can enjoy Bonfire Night, visit

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/50173040

https://family-action.org.uk/self-help/supporting-neurodivergent-children-on-bonfire-night/

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/leisure/bonfire-night