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Children, and especially stimulus-sensitive children, thrive on a clear routine. The predictability that structure offers them gives them something to hold on to and peace of mind. For children with autism, this reduces tension in the world that is so chaotic for them. [Read More About the Importance of Routine on Children with Autism]
Some families like structure and a lot of predictability, while others prefer a more flexible and chaotic lifestyle. Either way, certain activities such as eating times and bedtime take place daily. Many families have created appointments around these moments.
The following steps will help you set up a good daily routine. As an example, I used the bedtime routine.
Provide insight into all the separate small steps that belong to a certain task that your child has to perform. Example: the task is to get ready for bed. The steps to go to bed are:
Use the listed intermediate steps to create a schedule. This can be written with words, with pictograms, but the checkpad can also be a nice visual support for your child. Hang the visual diagram (drawn or written or the checkpad) in a visible place for your child to see, step by step, what needs to be done.
Use a timer to indicate when the schedule starts and to show how much time is available. Example: Set an alarm before 7:00 PM. that your child can hear. Your child knows that the evening routine should start before bedtime. Use an hourglass to make sure he brushes his teeth for a full two minutes.
In between, have your child look at the schedule or checkpath to know which next step needs to be performed. Give your child compliments and encouragement as they complete the various steps. Example: Ask your child to point to the step in the visual outline as he goes about to perform the step. When all the steps are completed, give your child a compliment.
Be consistent in the routine’s output. Don’t make changes every week, as it will come at the expense of learning the routine and the sense of predictability. Example: Make sure that bedtime steps are done in the same order every night.
[Read here how to successfully tackle the morning routine]
In addition, it is advisable to make a weekly schedule for your child in which you provide insight into events such as sports, music lessons and homework times. You can also indicate which parent is at home or whether there is a childminder or whether your child goes to after-school care. To clarify morning and evening routine, the checkpad is recommended.
Whatever routine you start with, morning or evening routine. Remember that it takes time for your child to master the routine. So don’t give up too quickly. When your child can perform the routine without help, the visual support is no longer necessary. Then let the visual support gradually disappear. Some children become so attached to routines that they get upset at every change. It’s important that you also help your child develop a little flexibility.
Once a routine has been mastered, changes may still occur. And it is also good to make a change. For example, someone else who reads the story, because of going to bed late, the shower is skipped once. This helps your child not to carry out the routine too rigidly and compulsively.
Do you have any tips for us and our readers, for example, what helped in your family to provide more structure?
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