Still Chasing the Blues
We are addressing the issue of the increase in lethargic, withdrawn, less responsive behaviors noticed by teachers, parents, and therapists during the winter season. Yesterday’s podcast, “Chasing the Blues Away,” focused on the strategy of increasing exposure to natural light, thereby kick-starting biochemical changes in the brain to elevate mood. Today we are brainstorming ideas chasing the blues away by increasing purposeful movement and activities.
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We can’t always pinpoint the source of a person with autism becoming more withdrawn, less attentive, less responsive, and generally lethargic during the winter months, but we can implement specific strategies to help maximize attentiveness and joy for every individual. In addition to increasing exposure to natural light and outdoor activities, we can make purposeful plans to increase movement and activity each day.
1. MOVE AROUND. Add some active exercise several times a day. Make it fun and a predictable, regular part of each day. For example, when the clock marks the top of the hour, everyone could stretch to the sky and touch the floor five times. Or, at 10:30 every day, introduce a fun dancercise video designed for the age range of your friends with autism.
2. SNEAK IT IN. Some individuals resist exercise, whether they function on the spectrum of autism or not. So you can sneak in opportunities to move around every day. For example, your friend with autism could be in charge of picking up the mail or swiffing the floor or completing any number of other chores around the house or classroom. Or you could plan a tour of the school or the mall or the grocery store every day.
3. MUSIC MOVES YOU. Get the whole group involved in marching to the beat of a march by John Phillps Sousa or dancing with scarves to the music of Tschaikovsky’s “Nutcracker.” The music selections and movement depend strictly on the preferences of the individual, but there are literally thousands of choices ranging from rap to classic waltzes. One favorite is playing follow-the-leader to the beat of Henry Mancini’s “Baby Elephant Walk.”
4. PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE. A special event once a week or so can help chase the blues away by encouraging folks to participate actively in the planning and preparations as they eagerly anticipate an upcoming happening. Add some special event to each day or week, depending on your schedule. For example, the group could work on a surprise birthday party for an acquaintance or the group could save some time for popcorn and a movie at the end of the day.
5. LEND A HELPING HAND. All of us tend to cheer up and ignore our own blue moods when we are helping other people. So, for example, the group could plan to lend a helping hand by raking the leaves of an elderly neighbor or surprising the lunch room staff by coming in after lunch to clear the tables and mop the floor.
The key to keeping the wintertime blues at bay includes two specific strategies: (1) increasing exposure to natural light and (2) increasing purposeful activity and movement. We welcome your observations about the effect of short days on individuals with autism, as well as any ideas you can share that seem to help chase away the wintertime blues.
Note to FAQautism.com listeners and readers: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. You can click on a button to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solutions. Check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. www.FAQautism.com
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