By using an autism visual schedule, you can customize your morning routines to be as specific or general as is comfortable. When an autistic child has too many choices and not enough structure it’s usually not long until the inevitable meltdown ensues. This is a schedule made up of clear visual signs of what your child can expect throughout part of the morning that will give them structure. An aid we can recommend is an autism visual schedule. Because individuals with special needs have difficulty sequencing, using pictures and symbols to lay out what will be done each morning will prepare your child for independence. Keep in mind, if there’s a yellow sweater your child is attached to, be sure to buy several so they will always have a clean yellow sweater to wear when they desire.Īn invaluable tool when raising a child with autism is to create an autism visual schedule. This will also provide you with insight into what they prefer, and may even lead to more positive behaviors related to dressing. Giving your child the opportunity to make this decision on their own empowers them as well as encourages healthy decision-making. Doing this the night before will eliminate another step in the morning and avoid a potential argument over which t-shirt or sweater they want to wear. Make it a habit to choose and layout your children’s clothing for the next day before putting them to bed. We know, this sounds cliché, but without the right fuel you’ll be setting your child up for failure as there’s no way they’ll be able to function without a nutritious meal eaten at a slow pace. You’ll be able to run through your child’s autism morning routine at a relaxed pace setting them up for a successful day at school. The extra time will make you calmer, in turn making your kid calmer. Do not underestimate the power of an extra 15 minutes in the morning. If there was an autism schedule golden rule for parents, it would be this one. If you’re looking to hack your child’s morning routine for optimal success here are a few ways we can suggest making the most of the precious hours before the start of the day. On top of the fact that you may have woken up exhausted, you now have to get your child out of bed, fed, dressed, and prepared for the day all before hopefully managing to get them to the school bus on time.Įstablishing an autism morning routine is the key to successfully preparing your child for a productive and low-stress day in the classroom. There’s no arguing with the reality that morning can often be the most challenging part of the day. It’s also important to seek activities outside of school like autism after-school programs. They’re even more effective when used with an autism visual schedule and autism visual calendar, which you’ll find great examples of below. Keep in mind that these routines work best when maintained throughout the school year and beyond. These four basic routines will help you and your child transition seamlessly from summer, having them back to school ready in no time. While this is an exciting time, all that excitement for your child could potentially lead to overwhelm if not managed properly. With the start of the school year soon approaching, now is the best time to start setting up daily routines and autism schedules that will make this back-to-school season easier for everyone.
Our children take cues from us, so trying to stay organized and prepared helps them by helping you. When it comes to raising a child with autism and parenting children with special needs, having a solid routine and autism schedule rooted in dependability is what makes all the difference.
It’s now time to prepare your child to go back into the classroom and resume regularly scheduled programming.
Blog School Four Best Back to School Routines Using an Autism Visual Schedule Four Best Back to School Routines Using an Autism Visual Schedule July 22, 2021Ĭongratulations! You’ve made it through the height of the pandemic as well as homeschooling.