OPENING PRESENTS: A MOMENT OF JOY… OR A MOMENT OF OVERWHELM?

For a lot of families, opening presents is one of those picture-perfect holiday moments - kids tearing into wrapping paper, adults pretending they’re totally surprised, and the dog trying to eat a bow.

But for many autistic people, this moment can be a lot more complicated.

Holiday mornings come with bright paper, loud reactions, new textures, sudden surprises, and the unspoken expectation to perform excitement. It’s basically a sensory rollercoaster wrapped in shiny foil. And if your child seems stressed, cautious, or simply uninterested in the whole thing… that’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with them - or with you.

We hear from so many parents who whisper some version of: “Is it weird that my kid doesn’t like opening gifts?”

It’s not weird. It’s human.

Why Present-Opening Can Be Hard

Autistic kids often juggle more sensory input than most people even notice. For them, gift opening can feel like:

Too many textures (crinkly paper, tape, ribbon, the fabric of a cozy sweater that… isn’t cozy at all)
Too much noise (everyone watching, cheering, reacting)
Too much pressure (“Say thank you!” “Show everyone!” “Can you hold it up for a photo?”)
Too much unpredictability (what’s inside? how big is it? is it something they even like?)

And when you mix excitement with overwhelm, sometimes the reaction looks nothing like what the Hallmark movies promised.

What “Success” Actually Looks Like

Your child opening one gift and taking a break? Success

Your child only wanting one or two presents? Success.

Your child needing the wrapping half-off before they feel comfy touching it? Still success.

There’s no correct script. Just your family, doing things in the way that works for your kid.

Gentle Ways to Help

If the holidays tend to get noisy or fast-paced, here are a few things that might make present-opening feel a bit easier:

Let them open gifts at their own pace - even if that means spreading it out over hours or days.
Skip the wrapping altogether for kids who hate the texture or the surprise factor. A gift bag, a box, or even just handing it to them works.
Open presents in a quieter room if the main event feels too intense.
Let siblings or cousins open their gifts at a different time to reduce the pressure to “keep up.”
Model calm curiosity instead of excitement - big reactions can feel overwhelming.

And honestly? It’s okay if someone else opens their gifts for them. Sometimes knowing what’s inside first takes the edge off.

Joy Looks Different for Every Family

Some kids love the thrill of ripping paper. Others prefer to explore gifts slowly, or only when they’re ready. Some kids will rip the paper into perfectly symmetrical pieces for 20 minutes before they even look at what’s inside - and that’s great too.

What matters most is that your child feels safe, supported, and loved. Not that they match a holiday tradition that was never built with neurodivergent kids in mind.

You’re Not Alone in This

If present-opening looks different in your house, you’re in good company. Many families in our community have created new traditions that work better for their autistic kids - quieter mornings, staggered gift times, unwrapped presents, or even skipping the present-opening moment altogether and letting kids discover gifts throughout the day.

There’s no wrong way to do it. Just your way.

And honestly? That’s one of the most beautiful things about the holidays.

Preparing for Opening Presents with Your Autistic Loved One