Surviving a Busy Day With Your Autistic Child

Parents of Autistic children know all to well that our children seem to thrive, and demand, routine. While most days we can juggle this with finesse and work our needs into their routines, there are times when it just isn't possible and there is no babysitter or therapist in sight to help. The holiday seasons can be the worst because it brings a lot of errands and shopping that we normally do not have to attend to. And trying to move an Autistic child from one activity to another or from one destination to the next can be so exhausting. Just the first tantrum can be exhausting and after you finally get your precious bundle of joy into the car, you fall exhausted into the front seat, only to find a list of 5 other places you really need to go to. This can leave BOTH of you going into meltdowns and personally, I can start fighting panic attacks like a mad woman.

But, if you plan ahead and figure out some strategies before heading out into the world, your errand running can become not only much more pleasant but also an occupational or behavioral therapy experience for your child. Here are some tactics that I have found to help myself and my youngest Autistic son make our way thru busy days without my wanting to resort to a entire bottle of wine upon returning home.

*Remind children of changes five to ten minutes ahead of time. A visual timer can be very helpful. For example, you could say, "In ten minute, it will be time to get your coat on and go bye-bye."

*Speak with confidence when directing your child, rather than "asking" them to do something. Saying, "It's time to go to the grocery store," instead of, "Do you want to go to the grocery store" conveys the necessity of a change. Asking suggests a choice, when actually, there really is no choice...thus leading to confusion and the dreaded meltdown.

*Offer small toys to take along to ease the transition. You could also keep a child sized backpack full of toys and trinkets that they only get when you are out and about. And sometimes, if possible, offer them the option of riding their tricycle of scooter to the car or even in some stores that it won't cause much problem or disruption.