
Small business have to stick together for support. Female owned small business are a special bunch and one that I am a proud member of. I asked a friend of mine, behavior guru Amy Foxman, owner of Ability ABA, to add some ideas for parents supporting children on the autism spectrum in these times of intense deviation from the everyday routine and structure that these children need more than most. Enjoy!
Amy Foxman, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA
As many of our daily routines and schedules have been thrown out the door the last several weeks, several of us have found new routines to implement. In my family, some of those include eating fresh eggs in lieu of toaster waffles for breakfast, cooking dinners together, and taking more frequent walks together around the neighborhood.
For many children, especially those with autism spectrum disorder, routine and predictability can be important. While our day-to-day activities may never be 100% predictable, increasing predictability in those daily activities and preparing children for changes in routines can help set the stage for more positive behaviors. Increasing predictability doesn’t always entail following strict schedules or having the same activities each day, though. Instead, it’s often about knowing what is coming next and being able to expect what is ahead.
Below are some strategies to incorporate more predictability into the day-to-day routines we have. Not all the strategies need to be used at once; instead, try incorporating one or two of the below techniques into the day. Small changes implemented consistently can make meaningful behavioral change over time.
- Use a visual schedule to show what activities your child will be doing each day. This may be done with words, drawings (stick figures are great!) and words, or printed pictures. It does not need to be fancy to be effective!
- Have your child help decide the day or morning/afternoon schedule and/or activities. Let them pick from select activities you have chosen that are acceptable and available. This allows your child and you to have control in decision-making.
- Use simple “first-then” schedules and wording. With a “first-then” schedule, one activity is chosen to be the first activity, and a second activity is chosen to follow it. Usually a more preferred activity is chosen second (by the child) to encourage completion of the first activity. For example, I would say, “first we will do the math assignment, then we will jump on the trampoline!” I would write: “FIRST: Math; THEN: Trampoline.”
If a new or different activity is going to happen, then let your child know in advance if possible. Preferably, write and/or draw it on a calendar and visually show it on a schedule. Weekly or monthly calendars are great to have in visible places for your child to see. If your child struggles with going to new places or changes to schedules, consider showing visually what the activity and/or place will look like and talking your child through it prior to its occurring. Social stories are great resources to use for changes to routines and new activities. Check out Autism Speaks Social Story Resources.