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The summer holidays are in full swing, giving parents the perfect opportunity to spend more time with their children, making fun and lasting memories. However, the break from school can also create challenges for autistic children, with the sudden lack of routine and predictability. Here are some tips to help reduce anxiety and stress, maximising your family’s quality time together.
Set a routine
Consistent wake-up times and schedules during the school term provide comfort and familiarity for many autistic children. While it’s impossible to maintain the exact routine during the school holidays, creating a regular schedule can help to ease anxiety
Keep some elements of the school routine, such as mealtimes and bedtimes consistent. Structure the day into blocks—morning, afternoon, and evening, outlining the activities planned for each period.
Communicate with your child
Regularly talking with your child about changes in their routine is crucial. Discuss their concerns, what they are excited about, and how they want to spend their time during the holidays. Transparency about potentially challenging aspects, like long journeys, can help prepare them. Social stories can be an effective tool to introduce new or challenging scenarios in an understandable way.
Plan activities out of the house in advance
New activities or visiting new places can be daunting for some children due to the many unknowns. Researching destinations in advance can alleviate some of this stress. Many libraries, museums, theme parks, and other public settings offer sensory maps and visit guides. Involve your child in the research process if they enjoy it. Check if the places have quiet areas for sensory breaks and consider scheduling these breaks to prevent your child from becoming overwhelmed. Bringing sensory aids such as fidget toys, vibrating items, weighted toys, or visual toys can also help reduce immediate anxiety.
Visual Timetables and Social Stories
Visual timetables, using photos and pictures to outline the day or week, can help your child know what to expect, reducing uncertainty and increasing predictability. Including a picture of your home to symbolise downtime can reassure your child about when they will be at home. Social stories, which are short narratives with pictures explaining what to expect in specific situations, can bring clarity and understanding to potentially anxiety-inducing events, for example you could write a social story about a family trip to the beach, which will prepare your child on what to expect.
Take advantage of Caudwell Children’s Short Breaks
Short Breaks allow children and young people with Special Educational Needs and disabilities to explore new interests, try different activities, and make new friends in a safe and welcoming environment. Parents and carers can leave their children with our experienced Short Breaks team, providing themselves with much-needed respite and time for personal activities.
For more information about our Short Breaks, please click here.
Incorporate Downtime
Everyone needs time to recharge, and for autistic children, this downtime is essential to calm their minds, decompress, and regulate emotions, preventing burnout. Schedule stay-at-home days between busy ones to allow your child to recharge. Additionally, include daily downtime; for instance, if you have morning activities, plan a few hours at home in the afternoon. While engaging activities are beneficial, it’s equally important to ensure your child has time to process, decompress, and pursue their hobbies.
By following these tips, you can help make the school holidays more enjoyable and less stressful for your autistic child and your entire family. However, keep in mind that every child is different, so not every tip will work for everyone.
For more information about our Autism Services, please click here.