Throw the Party!

 From 2015–2017 I worked at an educational facility for students with autism and other special needs. One thing I appreciated about the culture created there was that we threw a party almost every month. At the previous school I worked at, it wasn’t explicitly against the rules to throw parties, but I always felt like it was frowned on to spend too much classroom time celebrating. Alternatively, it was built into the fabric of this facilities culture that we throw parties! There are a lot of reasons that we did that. For our population of students, frequent, repeated opportunities to practice skills was important. How to respond to new stimuli, new people, increased noises, shift in routine…these are all things that need to be learned and practiced. Just because it’s a party, doesn’t mean learning isn’t happening. Besides the very practical reasons to provide structured exposures to routine changes, it was fun, which also definitely matters. These students and families had been through lot before coming to our school. Unlike their peers, they weren’t going to birthday parties, play dates, Christmas plays, etc. We were giving these students and families a chance at something they lost. To build the type of community every parent dreams about when starting a family, but which families of students with special needs don’t always get. The parties were just as much for the parents and siblings as they were learning opportunities for the students.

Star Wars Day, Pi Day Quiche,
St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo   

I decided to write about this today, because I think that during a pandemic, celebrations can be one thing in your tool box for getting through. There are after all still graduations, birthdays, anniversaries to celebrate. But besides those regular milestones, I think it can be useful to celebrate other, less commonly celebrated holidays. For example, in March there is of course St. Patrick’s Day, but in our house we also joyfully celebrate Pi Day on 3/14 with pies all day. Yesterday was Star Wars day (May the Fourth be with you!), and today is Cinco de Mayo AND Taco Tuesday! As summer approaches, distance learning ends, and most places remain closed, families will need something new to tie their daily routines to. Why not choose a random holiday to celebrate each month? Or week? Or every day!? Really lean into the theme. Give out awards for best dressed, make a huge mess in the kitchen decorating a ridiculous cake, play party music all day, send your kids invitations. I’ll say it again and I’ll keep saying it: Taking care of mental/social/emotional needs is so very important as we continue to stare down a tunnel with no end in sight for this pandemic. Here are some ideas for the coming months. Some are party ideas, some are just ideas for activities you can do during the day if you need to shake up your routine.

There are of course other important days to celebrate like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, but I hope you can add in some silly fun to your summer months! Holiday info came from here and here. Send me pics of your parties on instagram @cjoylewis with #throwtheparty! Cheers!