Successful Family Visits
Our youngsters with autism deserve consideration when it comes to family visits on holidays or other special events. Taking a look at seemingly insignificant details can make a difference between disaster and a successful family visit.
or
continue reading
TIMING. Pick the best time frame for your visit. For example, if your son nearly always has an emotional meltdown in the early evening, then plan to leave in the late afternoon. If he usually gets very active in the early afternoon, plan to take him for a walk or participate in another rowdy activity at that time. Time your visits to avoid triggers such as mealtime or bedtime for behavior issues or emotional outbursts.
FOOD AND STUFF. If your son only likes certain foods, take some of that food along. If he can’t get along without his favorite toy or book, take that along.
WAITING. Most kids get restless when waiting around. Plan some activities that he can enjoy rather than expecting him to sit for hours while adults converse or the whole group sits to watch television.
SHORT AND SWEET. If you know in advance that your son gets restless after a few hours of relatively unstructured time, then don’t press your luck. Purposefully show up after everyone else has arrived, enjoy a meal and visit, then head home.
TIP FOR THE DAY: As we approach the family holiday season, it is good to do all we can to everyone enjoy spending time together. Check out some of our previous podcasts about holiday visits and family connections for more ideas that lead to successful family visits.
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 a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. 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:
- Holiday Visits “Just the thought of visiting our family at Thanksgiving raises...
- Better Holiday Visits Parents of a third grader diagnosed with autism commented they...
- Avoiding Holidays 1 Holiday visits can raise the stress level for all families,...
- Family Gatherings Some families avoid family gatherings during the holidays because of...
- Grandparent Connections Because of distance or schedules or other issues, extended family...