Autistic Childrens Schedules

Every child finds life easier if they have a regular schedule. A regular schedule becomes even more important when you are dealing with a handicapped or disabled child and specifically if you have an autistic child. Schedules allow children to have a feeling of security and predictability in an uncertain world, this can help to reduce levels of anxiety in autistic children. Autistic children benefit from schedules, and schedules allow them to know what they will be doing at a particular time and to anticipate the day ahead.

Without a schedule an autistic child will find life more challenging and each day less predictable. Schedules can also benefit parents. There are many activities in an autistic childs day a which need to be remembered, visits to the doctor or to a therapist are one example. Having a schedule means that important events are not missed.

Some autistic children have reading difficulties, and in this case develop a visual schedule to help them plan their day. Cut out pictures from magazines to represent common events such as visiting the doctor, watching the television or playtime. Make sure that the pictures represent happy situations with a smiling face these, and this will mean that your child will look forward to these events.

Changes in a routine are unavoidable, your priority is to give early notice of these and to explain them in advance to your autistic child. Autistic children love schedules and come to rely upon them, sudden unexplained changes can cause them distress and mean that anxiety levels rise. Noting this try to avoid changes to schedules wherever possible and be disciplined about resisting inserting anything new in at short notice.

A daily schedule can be your best friend. Getting up every day at eight o’clock and going to bed every day at eight o’clock are wonderful ways of starting and ending the day in a structured way without arguments. Sometimes there are events that an autistic child will not want to participate in, and if they are on the schedule you may find that these events are accented albeit reluctantly. If the event is to be followed by a fun item knowing that this is to come, and will not happen until the first event is completed, can help to focus your autistic child on the events at hand.

An example schedule for a typical household would be
7 AM Get up, put on clothes and be ready
8 AM Eat good breakfast
9 AM Home call therapy appointmente
11 AM Play / relax
12 PM Ready for mid day meal
1 PM Play Outside
2 PM Craft and Artwork
3 PM Relaxation
5 PM Prepare for dinner time
6 PM Watch television
7 PM Warm bath
8 PM Prepare for sleep

When you have a young child or an older autistic child you will find that maintenance of a regular schedule brings structure and benefit to your Lives.