St. Patrick’s Day can be an exciting celebration, but it can also involve changes in routine, crowds, noises, bright colours, and social expectations. Giselle Caligari,  Senior Speech & Language Therapist shares the following tips which are gentle suggestion to help support your child’s needs and make the day more comfortable and enjoyable

1. Preparing for the Change in Routine

• Mark the day on the calendar: Let your child know that there will be no school on the 17th of March
• Update visual schedule: If your child uses a visual schedule, include St. Patrick’s Day / Parade in their weekly schedule

2. Preparing for the Day:

• Introduce props and decorations ahead of time: when you are out in shops, point out hats, wigs, glasses and costumes so your child can gradually get used to seeing them.
• Provide context if your child is curious: some children may want to know why St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated. Looking it up together or offering a simple explanation can help provide context.
• Talk about what happens at a parade: Explain that people walk in groups, there is music, dancing and lots of people watching. Looking at social stories, books, or short videos of parades online can help make the experience feel more predictable.
• Explain the sensory experience: Parades can be busy and noisy. People might look different than usual — wearing green wigs, large hats, funny glasses, face paint, or carrying flags. There may also be whistles, horns, music, and dancing.
• Prepare for familiar faces looking different: Let your child know that people they know might look different if they are wearing costumes and props. If you or the child’s siblings plan to wear props, it can help to mention this in advance and try them on beforehand so your child can see what you/they will look like.
• Offer props as a choice: Your child might enjoy trying on props. Reassure them that it is completely okay not to wear a costume or props for the parade, and that they can change their mind.
• Think about the type of parade:
  o Smaller parades in familiar towns may feel more comfortable for some children.
  o For other children, seeing familiar places changed for the parade may feel unsettling, so a smaller parade in a different town may work better.
  o Larger parades, such as the one in Dublin, can be exciting but may also feel overwhelming.
  o Where possible, involve your child in choosing which parade to attend.
• Keep the day’s routine as familiar as possible: Try to keep the structure of the day similar to other “no school” days. A simple visual plan can help your child know what to expect. It can be helpful to go through the plan a few days in advance, so your child has time to understand this and see where the parade will fit into their day. For example:
  Breakfast → Play Minecraft → Lunch → Parade → Visit grandparents → Home → Dinner → Bath → Bedtime.
• Explain the plan for the parade: Being specific can help make the experience feel predictable. For example:
  “We will meet Grandma and Grandad near the sweet shop. Grandma will be wearing a wig and granddad will have the funny glasses on! We might see some of your friends from school there with their parents. We will stand next to the ice-cream shop and watch the parade”. If someone your child knows will be in the parade, it can help to tell them beforehand.
• Plan ahead for coping strategies: Reassure your child that they can leave the parade if it becomes too much. Have a plan if siblings want to stay – maybe they can stay on with relatives. This is important as some children might have a sense of guilt if they feel they are “spoiling it for others”

3. On the Day of the Parade:

• Arrive early: getting there before the crowds can help your child settle into the environment more comfortably.
• Bring comfort items: Noise-cancelling headphones, chewies, snacks, water, fidgets, or a small toy can be helpful.
• Stay tuned in to how your child is feeling: Watch for signs that your child may be becoming overwhelmed. Some children may find it difficult to recognise or communicate when they need a break, so gentle check-ins can help.

4. After the Parade:

• Plan some quiet time afterwards: Even if your child enjoys the parade, it can be helpful to schedule some calm, quiet time afterwards to help them regulate. This could be any relaxing activity they enjoy, such as reading, playing a favourite game, watching a show, or spending quiet time at home.

About the author

Giselle Caligari is a CORU-registered Senior Speech and Language Therapist with over twenty years of experience supporting children with a wide range of speech, language and communication needs. At Constellation Healthcare she carries out comprehensive assessments and works with families to develop practical, meaningful strategies that support children in developing effective and functional communication. Giselle has particular experience supporting children with autism and developmental delays

About Constellation Healthcare
Constellation Healthcare is a leading provider of neurodevelopmental assessments and supports in Ireland, specialising in autism assessments, autism diagnosis, and multidisciplinary care for children and families. We proudly offer private autism assessments (ASD assessments) for children in our dedicated Dublin clinic, providing timely, reliable and compassionate pathways to understanding your child’s needs.

Our assessments are carried out by highly experienced Clinical, Educational and Counselling Psychologists, as well as CORU registered Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists and Physiotherapists. Every assessment uses HSE recognised, evidence based tools to ensure accuracy, clarity and trust at every stage.

At the heart of our services is a deep commitment to child centred, personalised care. We believe every child is unique—and we celebrate that. From initial contact through to post assessment supports, our team works closely with families to provide clear guidance, expert clinical insight and reassurance throughout the autism assessment or autism diagnosis process.

If your family is seeking an autism assessment in Ireland, our multidisciplinary team is here to help. We understand that accessing support for neurodivergence can feel overwhelming, so we make the process as simple, straightforward and timely as possible. Our experienced team is on hand to support your family before, during and after an autism diagnosis, ensuring you feel informed, supported and understood every step of the way.