Too Much Free Time
Most people enjoy the free, unstructured leisure time of holiday breaks, but many individuals with autism prefer a predictable schedule. In fact, too much free time can actually cause irritation, restlessness, and a spiral that can lead to agitation or explosive behavior. It is unrealistic to expect families to fill every day with activity like school or work, but we can take one step to help our youngsters with autism feel more grounded.
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Families can take a cue from schools and develop a daily schedule – a piece of paper or an index card or something that generally outlines the happenings for a given day. If your youngster reads, you can make a written list. If not, you can still write words, but include simple drawings or small photos or some visual cue to indicate the activities for the day. No need to make anything fancy. Just a simple list on a note pad works fine.
Now, if you are like me, you are probably thinking that you don’t have time for making schedules. Or you are thinking that, even if you did have the energy to make a schedule, your life is to scattered to even know what you are going to do five minutes from now, much less for the whole day. ☺
Remember that you are just helping your friend anticipate in general terms what is coming next. Start by listing routine happenings – waking up, getting dressed, eating meals, brushing teeth, putting on pajamas, going to sleep. Then put some basic events – taking a walk, feeding the dog, playing a computer game, swinging, checking the mail, helping with laundry, reading a book, etc.
If you anticipate a special event for the day, you can just add the word “surprise” to the list. That word allows you to add something like baking cookies, washing the dog, visiting grandparents, driving around to see holiday lights, or drinking hot chocolate.
The idea is to have a concrete piece of paper for your youngster so they can have a general sense of the structure for the day. The written schedule can also help decrease the irritating questions, “What are we going to do today?” Just point to the scheduled event or to the word “surprise.”
TIP FOR THE DAY: Even though it seems like too much trouble to prepare a written schedule every day, you may find it saves you time and effort in the long run. And, more importantly, it adds contentment to the day.
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
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