Four Ways To Make Day-To-Day Life Easier For Your Children With Autism

We all run into struggles in our day-to-day life. However, during adolescence, these problems often seem far worse than they actually are. This is due to the fact that during this period in our lives, we’ve yet to develop the appropriate coping mechanisms and skill sets that enable us to work towards a quick and easy solution to our problems. As a result, children and teenagers are more likely to feel overwhelmed when things get tough. Thankfully, as a parent, there are various steps you can take to make day-to-day life for your children with autism easier, and by extension, less overwhelming. 

Doing so is particularly important for parents of children with autism and related disorders since they experience life a little differently to neurotypical children and, as a result, may require different kinds of support.

With that in mind, here are four ways to make day-to-day life a little easier for your children. 

Create a safe space for them. 

Whenever things get overwhelming, your child with autism must be able to retreat into a space where they feel safe and comfortable. This is one of the easiest ways for your child to calm down, especially if they are showcasing signs of a meltdown. Therefore, you should focus on creating a safe space for them at home. Typically, it is advised that these spaces are quiet and relaxing, with minimal furniture or decorations used – especially if your child struggles with sensory regulation. Furthermore, you should make it clear to your child that they can use this space as often as they like – and that they don’t have to ask for permission to do so. 

Follow a Routine

Establishing a clear routine is another great way to make your child with autism’s life easier, as it removes the element of surprise from their day. For children with autism or related disorders, surprises can often be the cause of great stress or discomfort, as they usually like to know what they are doing ahead of time so they can suitably prepare themselves. By putting together a daily routine – and discussing this with your child – you’re helping them prepare for what is ahead. 

Encourage them to attend therapy sessions. 

For children with autism and related disorders, attending therapy sessions with a licensed practitioner is a great way to help them develop the skills they need to better manage their symptoms and gain independence. For example, speech therapy is a handy tool for children with autism as it can help them to better communicate with others and find their voice. In doing so, they may also find it easier to discuss their feelings and emotions – meaning they can ask for help when they need it. 

At Alee Behavioral, we offer a range of online and in-person therapy services – including applied behavioral analysis that can be tailored specifically to the needs of your child. 

Change the situation, not the child. 

Whenever autism and related disorders are discussed in the media, the conversation often centers around autism being something that needs to be treated instead of managed. However, this simply is not the case. An autism diagnosis does not mean that your child is any less capable or less worthy than other children – they just experience life a little differently than the rest of us. Therefore, you can make your child’s life easier by understanding that when your child’s behavior is erratic or unpredictable, you need to change the environment around them instead of the child’s behavior itself. For example, if you are in a loud or noisy environment that is causing your child discomfort – instead of encouraging them to stick it out – move to a quieter place, or provide them with noise-canceling headphones.

In short, there are various steps you can take to make your child’s life easier on a daily basis – many of which involve being open-minded and supportive. Sometimes, simply asking your child what they need or how you can make things better for them can go a long way.

Having a routine in our daily life can prove to be highly beneficial. This is because it allows you to better manage and divide your time between work and your social life and develop healthy and lasting habits. However, for children (and adults) with autism and related disorders, a routine can be invaluable due to the fact that it allows them to better manage their symptoms by providing them with a clear structure and a sense of familiarity. 

Therefore, while life can sometimes be unpredictable, you must make an effort to put together a daily routine that works for your child. Here are some top tips to get you started! 

• Put together a weekly schedule, and display it clearly within your home. This way, your child can view their schedule at any time – and will know exactly what is expected of them each day. 
• Encourage your child to participate when putting together their routine – as this gives them a much greater sense of freedom and control. For example, you should expect them to spend a certain amount of time on their school or homework each week – but could allow them to decide when they would like to work on it. 
• Work their hobbies into their schedule, ensuring that they spend just as much time having fun as they do developing their special interests or studying. You should also try to ensure that their hobbies are as varied as possible so that they can develop useful skills.
• Often, children with autism or related disorders enjoy spending time alone – but this does not mean that they do not enjoy socializing or that they are unable to make meaningful and impactful friendships. Therefore, you can help them make new friends by setting aside some time in your schedule for socializing with their peers – whether this means they invite a friend over once a week or participate in team sports. 
• Where applicable, you may also want to make weekly or bi-weekly therapy part of your family’s routine. For example, at Alee Behavioral, we have a wide range of carefully curated therapy programs in place designed to help children with autism and related disorders thrive. This includes speech therapy and applied behavior analysis.
• Help your child adapt to their routine by writing down a list of tasks that they need to complete. For example, their morning routine could look a little like this: 

1. Wake up and make their bed.
2. Brush their teeth.
3. Wash their face.
4. Get dressed.
5. Have breakfast.

• While routine is important, you should also ensure that your child can deal with the unexpected or the days where things don’t quite go to plan. One way in which you can achieve this goal is by ‘scheduling’ in a surprise – where you simply write a question mark on their calendar or tell them you are going to be trying something new at a certain time. This way, they are not taken aback when something new happens.

In short, there are various steps you can take to put together a routine that works for your child – though perhaps the most important step is ensuring that they feel relaxed and comfortable. 

As COVID restrictions begin to reduce globally, we can start to make plans to spend time with our extended friends and family once again. This means that you’re bound to be receiving invites for large-scale events such as reunions, birthday parties, and even weddings. While a big event is enough to make anyone feel a little anxious from time to time, they can be even more daunting for those with autism or related disorders. 

This is because they are often crowded and noisy, leaving children feeling stressed or overstimulated, particularly if they deal with sensory issues. Furthermore, children with autism and related disorders may sometimes find it harder to respond to social cues, meaning they may find socializing within a formal setting particularly difficult. Despite this, it’s important that you do not exclude them from the event altogether by leaving them at home – after all, they are a member of the family, and their presence is just as important as anyone else’s. With that in mind, here are some ways in which you can help make it easier for your child with autism to attend a big family event. 

Add the event to your calendar as soon as possible.

Children with autism and related disorders often value routine. It allows them to ground themselves in the world around them and prepare themselves for any changes that might be coming their way.  Therefore, one way in which you can help them prepare for the family event is by adding the event to your calendar as soon as possible. You can then talk them through the process, giving them an idea of precisely what to expect when they attend the event. You could even ‘rehearse’ certain scenarios, such as the kind of conversation they might have or the food they might eat. 

Planning ahead for the event also means that you could spend some time discussing the party during an online therapy session. At Alee Behavioral, we’re always on hand to provide you with the tools and techniques you need to help your child thrive in any situation.  

Bring plenty of snacks with you. 

While there will likely be a variety of delicious food and drink to enjoy at the party, they may not always be the best choice for your child. Regardless of any special dietary requirements, they might have, they may be unwilling to try new foods as they prefer to stick to things they already know they enjoy. While it’s good to encourage them to step out of their comfort zone, as they are already in an unfamiliar environment, bringing some food and drinks along with you is a great way to help them feel a little more relaxed and comfortable. 

Bring headphones and toys. 

If the event includes loud music (or you are already dreading your aunt bringing out the karaoke machine), it may also be beneficial to bring along some headphones for your child to wear, especially if they have expressed some kind of sensitivity to loud noises in the past. You should also ensure that your child has plenty of toys or activities on hand that they can use to keep themselves entertained during the event so that they do not feel left out or bored. 

Be prepared to leave early. 

While your child may be trying their absolute best to get involved in the party, it’s essential that you do not force them to stay in a situation that they find particularly uncomfortable. If you notice any signs of discomfort or struggle, it may be time to say your goodbyes and head home to avoid upsetting your child. If your child is particularly hesitant ahead of time, you could make a compromise wherein you agree to spend a set amount of time at the party (i.e., a few hours) – but you must ensure you hold up your end of the bargain if this is the case.

When we are young, we begin to develop a range of skills that we will then carry with us into adulthood. This includes skills in areas such as problem-solving, relationship-building, and communication. In fact, these skills are often the foundation upon which our future personalities are based upon. However, some children with autism find it harder than others to communicate with their peers and loved ones. This could be due to the fact that they find communication in general difficult or because they are non-verbal. In fact, it is estimated that 40% of people with autism are non-verbal. With that in mind, it is important that you help your child with autism develop their skills in communication so that they can find their voice and reach their full potential.

Here are some simple ways in which you can get started and help them find their voice!

• Practice non-verbal communication. It’s important to remember that not all forms of communication involve speaking aloud. For example, you could communicate with your child through gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions. Incorporating non-verbal communication into your daily life can, therefore, help your child with autism develop the way in which they communicate and ensure they are not left out of the conversation. Furthermore, studies suggest that children (or adults) who may be non-verbal thrive when using sign language as a form of communication.
• Talk about their hobbies and interests. Sometimes, children with autism or related disorders will have special interests or hobbies they are particularly passionate about. Therefore, actively encouraging conversation on these topics is a great way to encourage them to participate in the conversation. Be sure to ask them plenty of questions, as this allows them to share their knowledge with you more thoroughly. Furthermore, you must never interrupt them when they are speaking or try to cut the conversation short as this could have a negative impact on their confidence.
• Consider attending therapy. At Alee Behavioral, we have decades of experience working closely with children with autism and related disorders, helping them to develop a wide range of skills and find their voices. Therapy services, such as Speech Therapy and Applied behavior analysis, can help your child with autism find their voice or develop their communication skills as a whole. As a result, they will begin to feel more confident.
• Encourage them to socialize with their peers. While children with autism and related disorders occasionally prefer to play or explore their interests alone – this does not mean that they don’t enjoy spending time with others – it just means it takes them a little longer to feel comfortable in group settings. However, studies suggest that children develop much quicker when they are surrounded by their peers. As a result, you should find ways for them to play and socialize with other children their age – whether that is through organized activities such as sports or by hosting a playdate at your home. When engaging in active play, children are given the opportunity to develop new relationships and find new ways to communicate – thus helping them find their voice.
• Talk about the world around you. Sometimes, children with autism can develop their language and communication skills by simply listening in on conversations. Therefore, you should try to talk to them as often as possible, using simple and straightforward language. For example, you could describe the view out of the window when you are driving instead of simply sitting in silence. While this does not put any pressure on your child to talk, it helps them learn through observation.