Peaceful Summer
Although most youngsters love the freedom of long, summer days, some kids with autism struggle with the lack of routine and an empty schedule. To help prevent the summertime blues, families might consider building some structure and predictable activities into their youngster’s daily routine this summer.
Listen Now:
or
continue reading
One family uses this plan to help make summer a peaceful experience for their pre-teen who thrives on the routine of school, but really struggles with the lazy, hazy days of summer.
SCHEDULE. The first step for giving the summer a predictable framework is developing a visual daily schedule. Because his reading skills are somewhat limited, this young man’s parents use words paired with symbols to outline the day’s activities.
EVENTS. The schedule includes mundane, routine events such as eating meals, getting dressed, and brushing teeth. Daily activities are also included in the schedule. This young man’s favorite daily activities include reading a chapter of an adventure book, checking e-mail, watching a favorite television show or movie, playing a video game, jumping on the trampoline, riding to the park with his dad, and playing guitar. His daily routine also includes a few household chores such as checking the mailbox each day, giving the dog/cat water, sorting and putting away the clean silverware, and making his bed. On some days, special events are added to the schedule. He enjoys visits with his grandparents, swimming, going to the zoo, and other special summer activities.
REVIEW. The family reviews the schedule before going to bed each night, Considering the nature of their son’s explosive behavior, they keep the schedule handy throughout the day so he can have a visual reminder of the day’s events. The youngster checks off each activity at its conclusion, then he looks at the schedule to see what is coming next. Because his summer days now hold few surprises that trigger negative reactions, this youngster seems to generally enjoy each day.
This plan may seem cumbersome, but considering the decrease in extreme behavior meltdowns, the family is willing to go that extra mile and is very pleased with the results. Developing a structured, predictable routine and presenting that routine with a visual schedule are the first steps in a strategy to diminish the summertime blues.
We welcome your input. Share challenges and ideas based on your experiences or intuition. Just click on the comments button or send an e-mail to talk@FAQautism.com.
NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: 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. Feel free to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. Send email to talk@FAQautism.com And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com
Automatically generated related posts:
- Blue Summer Many teens enjoy the relaxed, unhurried schedule...
- Summer’s Coming The lazy, hazy days of summer are...
- Summertime Blues “After years of agitation, our son finally...
- Living at Home After graduation from high school, some individuals...
- Summer Camp A mom sent a wealth of ideas...