How We Experience Christmas Lights With Our Blind Child

Growing up, my family always had a tradition of driving around to look at Christmas lights. So when I became a mother, I knew I wanted to continue that tradition with my two boys. Fast forward to today, and one of those boys is blind with no light perception. That reality made us pause for a moment and ask a genuine question:

How do we still enjoy looking at Christmas lights together, from the car, in a way that makes everyone feel included?

We searched the internet for ideas. Nothing. No real guidance, no examples, no “here’s how our family does it.”
So, like most things in our journey, we got creative.

We didn’t want the experience to be just us describing lights through a car window. We wanted it to feel fun, interactive, and full of that same energy I remembered as a kid. And that’s when my husband came up with a few playful ways to turn the drive into a game — something Titus could engage with fully and excitedly.

And let me tell you… everyone had a blast.

Here’s what we do every year now, and these ideas can be adapted for any family:

Our Christmas Light Tradition — Inclusive & Interactive

Eat one M&M from a candy-filled candy cane every time we see a lighted Christmas tree.
Shout “Santa!” whenever we spot a Santa display.
Say “Oh, Flashy!” or “Fancy!” for blinking lights.
Start with a small wrapped gift and pass it to the left each time we find a blow-up decoration. Whatever gift you end up holding at the end of the night is the one you open.

These little games transformed the outing from a passive visual experience into an active family event filled with laughs, competition, and excitement. Titus doesn’t have to see the lights to be part of the fun. He’s included, engaged, and right in the middle of the joy — exactly where he should be.