A little structure, organization, and routines go a long way for every child. Establishing a schedule is very important when teaching good habits and behavior within your child with autism. Time should be used wisely as in everything else! The earlier we teach the importance of routines the quicker they will adapt and bring that mindset into adulthood. Everyone can benefit from a routine, especially you as a parent too!
It’s important to remember that during a busy day, we should remember that our children rely on us and we need to be role models for them. The first step in doing that is creating a schedule that will get them up and running! The community plays a big role in providing resources that will keep our children engaging throughout summer. RAD envisions to change this with many events coming this summer so you can start adding them to your calendar!
Things to consider:
Anxiety issues
Children with autism can be prone to having anxiety issues. Creating a little bit of structure can help to decrease the chances of them experiencing it. Structured and scheduled things allow them to constantly be aware of and anticipate what is happening next each day. Without a schedule or structure, children with autism can often feel scattered and can develop more aggression. Having an organized structure creates comfort and calmness within your child.
Communication:
While routines are important, it’s also important to remember that changing up the routine can be beneficial as well. The key to introducing your children to changes in your routine is by being very communicative. Sometimes changes that are too sudden and unexpected can cause children with autism to feel discomfort, anxiety or have a hard time adjusting to it. The best way to communicate in this case is by discussing changes in visual perception. Visual communicating helps children with ASD feel more at ease.
Builds Flexibility:
Flexible thinking is important for children with autism to learn. There are many activities that can help build flexible thinking. Most children with autism don’t like change because it makes them feel out of control. The important thing to remember is not to give up! There are countless activities that are both fun and encourage an environment of flexible thinking. Here are few easy changes that can help your child learn to be flexible: