What is one sensory-friendly New Year’s Eve routine you’ve successfully used as an occupational therapist for autistic children to reduce noise-triggered meltdowns during holiday fireworks? In a sentence or two, why did this single strategy work for your client?

One sensory friendly New Year's Eve routine that worked was noise buffering paired with predictability. A client used noise canceling headphones and a clear countdown schedule before fireworks began. The routine worked because the child knew what to expect. Reduced surprise lowered stress. The environment stayed controlled even when the world outside was loud.