Autism and the Summer Holidays

When you have a child on the autism spectrum, a daily routine is crucial. As the summer holiday season approaches, you may be only too aware of the special challenges you face when routines are broken and schedules are disrupted. For an autistic child, life can be a confusing mass of events, places, sounds and sights. Keeping to set times and routines can help them to bring some order into an otherwise chaotic life. Keeping everything the same reduces their fears in an unpredictable and confusing world. Autistic children commonly prefer to follow a daily routine, and to know exactly what will be happening every day. Perhaps this means travelling the same way to and from school or eating the same food at breakfast time each day. It can be challenging for an autistic child to take a different approach to something. Even minor changes can be distressing. Big events, such as a summer holiday, can cause severe anxiety. However, by following a few simple tips, you can start to introduce new activities during the summer and establish a routine that won’t distress your child. What should you avoid? Many children with autism have sensory issues, causing negative reactions to loud noises, bright lights, strong flavours and smells. Holidays can feel like a sensory assault, leading to a meltdown. There are certain coping strategies you can try. Where possible, avoid sensory challenges. For example, if the shops are particularly busy, as people flock in on a hot day to buy stuff like barbecue foods, cold drinks and summer holiday clothing, is it really necessary to take your child shopping with you? Maybe you could shop online, find a family member or friend to babysit while you go to the shops, or ask someone else to go for you? Internet shopping is as good as going in person. You can have everything delivered to your doorstep without any fuss. If you must take your child shopping, have a plan. While some autistic children can handle noise and crowds in moderation, you should make sure it’s for only a limited amount of time. If it’s just the two of you, simply leave if your child gets upset. If you have arranged to meet friends to go for lunch or a coffee, advise them in advance that you may have to leave early to take your child out of an uncomfortable situation. Can you develop a new routine? Children with autism thrive in predictable and consistent environments. Unfortunately, the summer holiday season can be exactly the opposite. There are likely to be changes to the regular routines. In particular, the school holidays can be a traumatic time for an autistic child. Other routines such as sleeping, eating and playing, will also change. This should be an enjoyable time for them, so how can you help make sure these experiences don’t become a source of anxiety? The solution is to pick and choose the kind of changes you believe your child can handle most easily. While some can accept some minor tweaks to their routine, very few could handle it being completely disrupted. You might be considering a staycation this summer. If so, take your child’s favourite videos, toys and games with you and stick to the usual schedule of meal times and bedtime. Don’t go into an alien environment and make major changes to eating and sleeping times as well, as this will be unlikely to work. If you’re staying at home, you can reasonably adapt your routines during the summer holidays. You can often manage smaller and gradual changes, but going into everything full throttle will probably be too much. If you’re having visitors to your home, perhaps for a barbecue or other gathering, prepare a photo album in advance of everyone who is likely to come. Then, let your child have access to the photos well in advance of the gathering, so they can get used to the new faces. Have a chat and explain who everyone is, without overloading them with lots of new information all in one go. Tell other people your plans Once you have pre-planned something, whether it’s a party or a day out, stick to your guns. You’re aware of the challenges your autistic child may face. You’re likely to have a good idea of how they will react to various situations. With this knowledge, you can make plans well ahead of time to minimise any problems. The secret is to share your plans with family members and friends. Make sure they know you must stick to your routine, even if they try to dissuade you from doing so. The aim is to make sure your child has a pleasant time, with the least stress possible. If other family members or friends feel this inconveniences them in some way, you must be firm and tell them why you’re sticking to a specific plan or routine. For example, tell loved ones you will be happy to socialise at lunchtime, but later in the afternoon, you will be leaving, as your child will need a nap, if this is your usual routine. People will understand if you explain why you are doing something that seems odd to them. Sleeping routines Sleep problems are very common among children with autism. Research shows as many as 80% may have sleeping issues that can lead to daytime tiredness, behavioural problems and possible aggression. This is why you should try and keep the sleeping routine as constant as possible, even during the school holidays. Sleep problems can be hard on the child, parents and caregivers. Some autistic children struggle to fall and stay asleep. Others might wake up in the night and have problems going back to sleep. Whatever other slight changes you make in summer, ensure your child’s sleep environment remains as constant as possible. The bedroom should be quiet, dark and cool. Make sure your child is as comfortable as possible, in a familiar bed where they feel safe. If you regularly stay with other family members, such as grandparents, it could be useful to have a bedroom kitted out there for your child with the same type of bed and decor that you have at home. Planning ahead and making some simple adjustments can ensure the summer holidays are great fun!

For more information on Autism and the Summer Holidays talk to Kinderkey Healthcare Ltd