How to Support Children with Sensory Issues at the Stampede (and other crowded places)

Being in a large, noisy crowd can be overwhelming, overstimulating, and intimidating for anyone. Add a sensory processing disorder, and you can understand why some children struggle with going to the Calgary Stampede or other crowded places in the summer.

For a child who is sensitive to loud noises, bright lights, and different smells, they are likely using all of their coping skills to simply walk through the crowd. Then fireworks go off or someone in the crowd bumps into them. This might overwhelm their coping skills, leading to challenging behaviours like running away, screaming, or dropping to the ground. This situation is frustrating for both the child and their caregivers.

Since parents want their child to be able to have the same fun experiences as their peers in the summer, the solution does not have to be avoiding these places all together. Here are some tips to make trips to the Stampede more enjoyable for everyone.

Prepare your child for what is to come. Make sure they know before they get there that it is going to be a loud, busy place and that this might feel scary. Remind them that they will be by your (or another safe person)’s side the whole time. Validate any fears they might have about being in a crowd while still reminding them of the fun opportunities that will be there.

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Practice limit setting. If you know your child struggles with denied requests, make sure to set expectations before you arrive. If they get to play one game while they are on the Stampede grounds, tell them beforehand and reinforce when they are successful at accepting these limits.

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Bring along some tools or toys that give them comfort. If they have a fidget toy or a small stuffed animal that will help your child cope with some discomfort, pack it up and encourage your child to use it when they need it.

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Find some spots on the grounds that are quiet or relaxing and build breaks into the day. The Westen Oasis offers a space with dim lights and plants to enjoy while taking a break from the crowds and the sun. The Enmax Park is another calm spot. It runs along the Elbow River and has lots of space for your child to run around and blow off some steam if that’s what they need.

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Model mindfulness activities like deep breathing when you are feeling overwhelmed. If your child can see that you also get overwhelmed and that you also need tools to relax, the chances of them using their own tools increases.

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Finally, do not be too hard on yourself if the day is challenging. Try to remind yourself that there might be other factors contributing to an especially tricky day. Did your child get a good sleep? Is the weather adding stress? Are you drinking enough water?

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Even if the trip does not go as planned, pat yourself on the back for trying and remember that there are lots of other times and places to practice coping with big crowds.

Author 
Kelly Williams
Registered Provisional Psychologist
July 2022