Change and adapting to new situations – are two absolute necessities when it comes to tackling pandemics like the coronavirus (COVID-19). Norms are disrupted and altered like never before.
However, for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), their families face an even steeper uphill battle when it comes to coping with the pandemic. We have come up with some tips to help you fight that battle bit by bit, every day.
Stay Calm When Explaining What’s Going On
It is important to let your child know about Corona Virus and what changes are happening because of it.
Autistic children may not be able to communicate verbally, but they can pick up body language and voice tones. So, appearing stressed while explaining what is causing this drastic change in our lives will negatively impact your child with ASD. When talking to your child it is important to remind yourself that this situation is the new normal and it won’t last forever.
Before informing your child about the situation, make a plan of things to tell them and things not to tell them. Don’t let them feel overwhelmed and dwell on the details too much. Describe everything slowly and carefully. Give them time to process the whole thing and ensure that they don’t feel uncomfortable coming to you with any questions they have.
You can also use autism parenting magazine as a guide on how to communicate with your child with ASD. It is a great resource for ASD related parenting advice.
Recognizing Different Emotions
Depending on the current situation your child may feel anxious, frustrated, upset, etc. Don’t panic or stress over it. It is perfectly normal for them to have these feelings as they too have been experiencing drastic changes and loss of normalcy in their life due to the pandemic.
If you are the parent of an autistic child you have already noticed effects in your child because of not being able to see their favorite teacher in the school or to get to ride the swing or play with their close friends. Their daily routine is being thrown completely out of whack. So, you have to respond in a thoughtful way to ease the anxiety of your child.
Your child might ask you the same questions repeatedly. You can jot down the information they need to know all together in a paper. Be careful with the language and tone you are using so it doesn’t indicate stress or anxiety.
Give Each Day Structure
People with autism tend to follow a routine and maybe struggling the most with the changes in their daily routines due to the pandemic. A new routine needs to be structured for them in order to reduce their confusion about this overstimulating world. Setting time for getting up, exercise, meals, fun activities, and the bed will offer a sense of stability and routine and help your child with the current struggle.
Write the schedule in a paper and put it up as a visual prompt on the wall or fridge.
Including Enjoyable Activities
Keeping your child engaged with fun and interesting activities is important. Indulge them in creative work like painting, crafting, singing, solving puzzles, molding clays, etc. Online resources will also spice things up and meet up their sensory needs.
You should start homeschooling your child and continue on with the learning process for your child. They need to be in the habit of learning.n. After all of this is over you can reconnect with your child’s support network and rebuild the learning procedures.
Be All Ears
Your child may or may not be verbal when it comes to channeling their inner thoughts, feelings, and fears. If they are verbalizing their feelings and concerns, take time to listen to what he/she has to say. Set a specific time in the day when your kid is comfortable to talk to you.
It could be just before bedtime or after dinner – whatever time you choose, stick to that time of day, and include it in their daily routine schedule. However, if they’re not verbal, observing behavioral changes should be your priority. You’ll get to know how they are adjusting with the fears and threats of the pandemic.
You may have to juggle work and simultaneously prioritize the emotions of your child and the mental support he/she requires from you at these chaotic times. Be supportive and comfort them and make sure to offer space to the siblings having a difficult time to adopt as well.
Adjust to sensory needs
Changes are inevitable and during these stressful times, changes need to prompt. Routines are broken apart which means your child may fail to cope the way he/she used to. So, consider new strategies to meet their sensory demands.
Sometimes, you need to break free of timetables and create space for your child where both you and your child can have a session of channeling emotions. This is important whenever your child is engulfed with negativity and make sure you’re there on time for his/her emotional demands. Don’t forget about their siblings too! They will be picking up the same energy and mood as your child with ASD.
Methods of expressing our thoughts aren’t the same for everyone. Our ability to communicate may alter depending on the type of situation we are in. For example, we might be more spontaneous and reactive in the way we speak. Or, we might use the wrong words and lose our thoughtfulness.
For children with ASD, these problems will come as no surprise. They can sometimes feel uncomfortable communicating and mess their words up trying to understand and express themselves. In those instances, try to provide them other ways of communication like writing or texting. You’ll be breaking out of the mold, but they’ll feel safer and reassured once they get to channel their thoughts comfortably.
Just like everyone else, autistic children might want to be friends with others and communicate with them during these times. It’s an absolute necessity to monitor the connections your child is trying to build/has already built because of the risks children face while using social media.
Understanding social cues is also an issue you will want to keep an eye on. Whatever the case, try to facilitate your child’s connections and play your part in trying to maintain them.
Although these tips are proven to help fight back against the mental and physical traumas posed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, every child is different and will require a customized strategy to cope. It’s imperative to keep tabs on changes in behavior and extra support will be necessary following a major behavioral change.
Continue working towards the goals you’ve set for your child. Go easy on both of you. Applaud both yourself and your child, because you’ve come a long way together. And you’ve got more miles to go, so gear up!
If you have an autistic toddler, here’s How to Set Them Up to Thrive.