The holidays are a magical time filled with exciting activities, friends and family, and for many; a disturbed routine. Children with autism tend to rely on routines to feel secure, and many families spend time carefully curating a schedule for their children because of this. It is important to gently transition back into a more structured daily schedule, whether your child is returning to school after the break, resuming ABA therapy sessions, or settling back to therapy sessions, or at-home routines, here are some tips to make the process a little smoother.
Begin by introducing small changes a few days before the routine officially begins. You can do this by:
- Gradually adjusting wake-up and bedtime schedules by 15-30 minutes each day until they align with your normal routine.
- Reintroduce small parts of your daily schedule, like mealtimes or quiet time.
Visual schedules are a great tool to help children understand what to expect each day.
- Review the schedule together each day to help your child feel prepared and provide them with structure.
- Try using pictures or symbols that your child recognizes to represent each activity on the schedule.
Incorporate preferred activities! Make this transition enjoyable by incorporating your child’s favorite activities into the schedule.
- If you have a child who loves sensory play, make sure that you include a sensory break in the schedule.
- Pro Tip: Use preferred activities as positive reinforcement for completing less preferred activities.
Reward your child with verbal praises when they follow the steps of the new routine during ABA therapy, letting them know they are doing a great job! You could also implement a reward system, such as earning tokens for steps completed on their schedule which can be exchanged for a treat, toy, or favorite activity. Remember, transitions take time, and it is normal for children to need extra support in this area. With patience, consistency, and a little creativity – you can help ease your child into their routine!
If you and your family are interested in beginning therapy at one of our centers, please get in touch with someone from our team.
