The most wonderful time of year, whether you’re hosting a big family event or spending hours decorating your Christmas tree – the holidays are simply magical. However, for children with autism and related disorders, they can also be a little daunting. This is due to the fact that they’re leaps and bounds away from their usual routine; with unplanned visitors popping by, time off school, and the potential for sensory overload at every possible corner.
However, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are plenty of elements of the festive period that your children are sure to love – from giving and receiving gifts to rewatching their favorite holiday movies. As with any celebrations, from birthdays to thanksgiving, it’s easy to make the event as autism-friendly as possible, it simply requires some careful planning ahead of time.
With that in mind, here are some top tips for an autism-friendly Christmas!
Putting together a clear routine is a great way to help your child thrive in any environment. This is due to the fact that it can provide them with the structure and stability that they require to function as normal. While it may be impossible to stick entirely to your usual routine during the festive period, being as consistent as possible in your day-to-day activities will go a long way towards helping your child feel more comfortable. For example, you could ensure that you:
Whether you prefer an artificial tree or the real deal, decorating your home for an autism-friendly Christmas can be a lot of fun – especially as it is an activity that the whole family can get involved in. However, when decorating, you should be particularly mindful of any sensory issues that your children may deal with as you do not want to make them feel uncomfortable in their own home. For example, while fairy lights are a great way to bring some sparkle into your lounge, they aren’t always the most autism-friendly choice of decorating, especially if they blink on and off or change colors frequently.
Playing (and replaying) your favorite Christmas songs is a great way to get the party started – whether you’re a fan of Mariah Carey or Michael Buble. However, if you want to keep your party as autism-friendly as possible, you should ensure that you keep the noise down to an acceptable volume. This is due to the fact that children with autism and related disorders often react negatively to loud noises. In fact, a recent report from the interactive autism network found that approximately 65% of children with autism are sensitive to noise. It may also be worth purchasing some noise-canceling headphones for your child.
While each and every child experiences autism in a different way, many children with autism and related disorders are also quite specific regarding the kinds of food and drink they enjoy. Again, this is often linked to the way in which they approach certain senses, such as taste and texture. For example, they may not like the texture of certain foods, or the way they feel in their mouth – and as a result, will refuse to eat them moving forward. While your parents may always have encouraged you to eat everything on your plate, it’s important that you do not force your child to eat something they do not enjoy. Instead, you should ensure you put together dishes and meals that you know they will enjoy.
Listening to your child, and encouraging them to find ways to express themself is another great way for the whole family to enjoy the holidays. For example, when you put together your schedule for the holidays, you should discuss it with them in-depth and ask how they feel about certain events or activities. If they express discomfort, you’ll be able to soothe their worries or put alternative plans in place.
Whether your favorite part of thanksgiving is the famous football matches, spending time with your family, or second (and third) helpings of pumpkin pie – you’ll likely already have put some plans in place for how you plan to celebrate the big day. After all, many thanksgiving celebrations were put on hold last year, meaning that we have twice as many reasons to celebrate in 2021.
However, when a child deals with autism or a similar condition, enjoying a big family event can be a little more difficult. This is due to the fact that celebrations not only mark a clear deviation from their usual routine, they are also busy, loud, and over-stimulating – which could leave your child feeling incredibly uncomfortable. However, this does not mean that they have to miss out on the fun!
With that in mind, here are some top tips for planning the perfect (autism-friendly) thanksgiving celebrations.
As a parent, you will always want what is best for your child. As a result, if you begin to suspect that they have a condition such as autism, you may be feeling concerned or even worried about what the future may hold for your child. After all, children with autism or related conditions experience life differently from their neurotypical peers and may need certain support fixtures in place to ensure they can reach their full potential.
First things first, however, it’s important to remember that an autism diagnosis is not a bad thing. Therefore, if you are beginning to suspect that your child may have autism, it is important that you do not panic. We all have qualities that make us different from each other, and autism is simply one of these differences. Furthermore, those with autism can fully achieve their goals – no matter what they may be. That being said, getting that autism diagnosis can make a real difference to your child’s life for the better, as it means you’ll gain access to the appropriate support networks.
According to recent reports, approximately 1 in 54 children in the US have been diagnosed with ASD, though it is also estimated that a quarter of kids with autism go undiagnosed. This is likely because autism manifests itself differently in each person – and there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ list of symptoms that you can apply to receive a diagnosis.
Nevertheless, if you suspect that your child may have autism, there are certain steps you can take to ensure that you give them the support and love they need. For example, you should:
As mentioned previously, no two people with autism will have the same experiences and symptoms, but parents can be on the lookout for certain signs of signifiers. As detailed by autism speaks, these symptoms may present themselves at different stages of your child’s development. For example, some of the earliest indicators of autism or a related disorder can be identified when a child is around six months old – such as limited eye contact or a lack of expression. Furthermore, when your child reaches their first birthday, you may notice a lack of babbling or chatter, alongside a lack of response to their name.
Despite this, most autism diagnoses happen when children are around four years old – though boys are often diagnosed much quicker than girls. Other common symptoms of autism that you may notice during this time include:
Autism Speaks have also put together a quick survey for parents who may be considering looking into their child’s behavior further, which could give you some of the answers you are looking for. You can try it out here.
After doing your research, if you still feel your child may have autism or a related disorder, it is time to look into getting a diagnosis. In some cases, medical professionals may prefer to wait until your child is over the age of two before they diagnose them. This is because all children develop differently and at different rates, so early diagnoses are sometimes discouraged – even though they can be beneficial.
Doctors and health professionals will diagnose children based on behavioral studies – as there are no medical tests that can actually be carried out. Once your child receives a diagnosis, they will also provide you with information on what you can do to best support them moving forward. For example, they may consider that you look into therapy services.
At Alee Behavioral, we have a range of different therapy and clinical services on offer that can be specifically tailored to each child. For example, if your child is non-verbal, we can support them through speech therapy.
Once your child has received a diagnosis, you will then introduce changes into your daily life that enable them to reach their full potential. In addition to connecting with therapists, this could include putting together a daily routine that helps your child thrive by providing them with structure. You’ll also be able to figure out ways to slowly and safely introduce your child to change without overwhelming them. For example, you could begin by scheduling ‘surprises’ into their daily routine – by adding a question mark to a calendar and displaying it within your home. This way, your child knows that they will be trying something new and can prepare themselves a little for these changes.
As mentioned previously, the most important thing to remember if you believe your child has autism (or if they have just received their diagnosis) is that you must not panic. Autism will not stand in the way of their success in any way whatsoever – and getting that diagnosis means that you’ll be able to provide them with additional care and support.
In the USA, the average age for an autism diagnosis is around 3.8 years for boys and 4+ years for girls. This is because this is around the time when their differences to their peers become more apparent, whether this relates to how they carry themselves or socialize with others. However, many individuals with autism and related disorders do not receive their diagnosis until much later in life, sometimes even into adulthood (70% receive a diagnosis after turning 18).
Nevertheless, while you may have noticed the signs of autism in your child from an early age, receiving an official diagnosis can feel daunting.
With that in mind, here are some top tips for parents whose child has recently received their diagnosis on the steps you can take moving forward.
Whether your kids are attending online school or have already returned to the classroom, with the new school year underway, it’s likely that they are going to be spending a lot of their time learning. However, while their academic pursuits are important, you should also ensure that they have plenty of fun outside of the classroom. After all, studies suggest that children learn just as much at home as they do in class – and having fun is a great way to relieve feelings of stress and anxiety in children of all ages.
With that in mind, here are some of the best after-school activities for children with autism and related disorders.
Sports Activities.
As a parent, you are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that your children understand the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle. While there are various ways to achieve this goal, encouraging them to exercise regularly is a great way to get started. That being said, sometimes it can take a little while to find the sport that best suits your child – especially when children with autism and related disorders may prefer solo sporting endeavors instead of team sports. However, that does not mean that there is not an activity out there that they will fall in love with!
If your child is looking for a solo-sporting activity, then you may want to consider the following:
– Swimming
– Running
– Athletics
– Martial Arts
– Gymnastics
– Golfing
However, while they may take a little adjusting, team sports can prove incredibly beneficial for children with autism and related disorders. This is due to the simple fact that it encourages them to formulate better relationships with their peers while improving their ability to communicate. Great examples of team sports include:
– Soccer
– Baseball
– Basketball
– Dancing
– Tennis
– Badminton
Creative Activities.
Creative activities, especially those related to the arts, are a great way to foster creativity within your children and encourage them to express themselves more clearly. This shows them that there are plenty of different ways to communicate with others or express how they may be feeling. Therefore, your child may benefit from spending some of their time outside of school participating in a local arts program. This could include:
– Theatre Classes
– Singing Classes
– Dancing Classes
– Painting/Sculpting Classes
– Model Building Classes
Group Activities.
When looking for the perfect after-school activities for your child, you should keep an eye out for activities that will encourage them to hang out with other kids their age more often. This can be instrumental in helping your child step out from their shell and make new friends. As a result, you may want to sign your child up to join some form of society or group activity – perhaps one that is centered around their special interests or hobbies. For example, this could include:
– Girl Scouts
– Boy Scouts
– Trainspotting Club
– Photography Club
Family-time.
While structured activities such as those listed above can be highly beneficial in supporting your child, you should also ensure that you leave time in their schedule for some much-needed family time. For example, you could head out for a daily walk or cook a delicious meal together each evening. Spending time with loved ones is another great way to reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and isolation – and it is just as beneficial for you as it is for your child – meaning that it is a win-win situation.
Put your child in charge.
As your children get older, you must let them take control of their own schedule and decide how they spend their time. After all, this helps them develop a sense of responsibility and agency that will carry them into adulthood. It also encourages a healthy sense of independence as they decide how they want to allocate their time. However, you should also be prepared to offer some guidance from time to time – especially if your child thinks the perfect after-school activity is playing the same video games over and over again.
In short, if you are searching for the best after-school activities for your child, you’ll be glad to hear that they are not in short supply. In fact, there are simply hundreds to choose from that simply did not make this list – but that does not mean they aren’t out there! If you would like more specific advice on how you can help your child – whether that be through finding the perfect hobby or through clinical services such as speech therapy or applied behavioral analysis -, please do not hesitate to get in touch today. We look forward to meeting you!
Parenting will always be tough – whether your kids are in the infamous terrible twos or entering their teens. However, if you are raising a child with autism or a related disorder, you may initially find it hard to provide them with the support and care they need to thrive in any situation. Thankfully, there are various ways in which you can begin to better provide for your child – many of which revolve around loving and respecting them for who they are. In this case, it’s important to remember that your child is not their autism diagnosis – it’s just a tiny component of who they are. They are also many other things – funny, kind, intelligent, and ultimately, capable of achieving their goals. With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can incorporate into your daily life to be the best parent possible for your child.
Unfortunately, there are many myths out there surrounding autism or what it means to be autistic – and these misconceptions can change how people respond to a person with autism or a related disorder. For example, they may believe that your child is less capable than they actually are based solely on their diagnosis. By doing your research and learning more about autism, you can help dispel these myths while ensuring you continue to meet your child’s diverse needs. You should also ensure that you discuss autism with other children in your family so that they understand why their siblings may behave a little differently to them.
Attending therapy sessions, whether online or in-person, is another excellent way to begin to better support your child. For example, you could help your child find their voice through speech or ABA therapy. As each child is different, you must do your research ahead of time to ensure that you select a therapy program that is right for them and meets their unique needs. At Alee Behavioral, we’re always happy to answer any questions you might have about our services and will provide individualized therapy to improve your child’s skills and prepare them for a brighter future.
Studies suggest that children with autism or related disorders prefer to follow a routine. This is because a well-structured routine removes the element of surprise from their daily lives, and they will not find themselves in a situation they are uncomfortable in. One way in which you can achieve this goal is by putting together a weekly calendar, which clearly details what your child will be doing each day and when. Following a routine is also a great way to encourage your child to follow a healthy lifestyle. If you are planning to deviate from their routine, ensure that you inform your child of this change in advance with as much notice as possible.
Sometimes, children with autism or related disorders may find it harder to communicate how they feel, especially when entering a new environment. Therefore, to support your child, you should pay close attention to any non-verbal cues they may exhibit so that you know when they need extra support. For example, they may show signs of discomfort through nail-biting or hand tapping.
When raising a neurodiverse child, it’s easy to feel separated from other parents as the issues you deal with on a daily basis are quite different from those that they may encounter. Therefore, joining support groups or connecting with other parents of children with autism or related disorders is a great way to gather more support or ask for advice when you need it.
Many children with autism or related disorders have a ‘special interest.’ This is a specific hobby or activity that they enjoy more than anything else, and as a result, would like to dedicate most of their time to it. While it’s important that you encourage your child to diversify their interests and try out new things, you should also try to get excited about their special interests too and support them as they pursue their hobbies. This will help them feel more relaxed and confident. Furthermore, it could help them develop their communication skills as they discuss their interest(s) with you.
While you may not always understand why your child is behaving in a certain way, especially if they are acting out of character, it’s essential that you are patient. For example, if your child is experiencing symptoms of a meltdown, you should remove them from that situation immediately and into an environment where they feel more comfortable. You should then help them find ways to calm down before asking them to explain how they are feeling to you. If they find it hard to discuss their emotions, you could use a feelings chart to help get the conversation going.
In short, the easiest way in which you can provide for your child is simply being there for them – and letting you know that you’re there to help no matter what they may be going through. Doing so will enable you to raise a strong, confident child ready for whatever life may throw their way.
Amazing Kids. Amazing Progress. Alee is a leading provider of clinic, school and home-based pediatric behavioral healthcare in New England.