COVID-19 brought changes in the daily routine of many. With most schools going online, and kids being at home most time, they miss out on several activities that schools might offer. Children could complain of boredom.
With all the stress around, there is a particular section of children who might find it all more difficult than the rest. Learning at home can be too taxing for children with ASD, particularly because while teaching children with autism at home, you realise they find it hard to express themselves.
Children with autism struggle to communicate or socialize. They usually display repetitive behaviours and are known for their inability to adapt to a change in their environment. Autistic children can be erratic and put on disturbed behaviour – sometimes self-inflicting or aggressive.
One reason for the repetitive behaviour of a child with ASD is unfulfilled physical needs and undetectable sensory needs. While repetitive behaviour can be addressed, during the pandemic times when the daily schedule has changed for many, a child with special needs will find it very hard to cope.
It can be traumatic for the child and the parents. Parenting a child with autism spectrum disorder can take its toll, but not anymore. A few tips handy can help both to a great extent.
Here’s why we bring you a few tips to help you manage kids with autism amid the coronavirus pandemic:
1. Stick to a schedule:
Kids who struggle with keeping up with any changes in the routine may find it overwhelming to adopt a new routine. However, you could identify a few habits from their pre-coronavirus times that they will be particularly prone to follow. You can help them with following the habits until they can transition without hassles into a new regimen. Make sure that you give your child regular breaks as it enables them to relax their mind.
2. The targets with a child-friendly visual schedule:
Children with autism can understand what to expect throughout the day. Once a certain routine is in place, children can be exposed to child-friendly visuals that will help them to have a hang of what is expected of them. Child-friendly visuals make it easier for both children with ASD and the parents alike by reducing stress and anxiety caused by a new daily pattern.
3. Appreciate your child’s achievements:
As your child sails through the day, you must pat him on the back for the little achievements he makes or meets his mini targets. Your kind words can boost his morale by a great degree. Parents need to understand that during the stressful times of COVID parents must keep their expectations of their children under check.
4. Telehealth could be a viable option:
While one might not be mobile during the pandemic, getting therapy for children with ASD on the phone could be a viable option. Quite many parents may fear that putting the occupational, physical, and speech therapies at a halt might make the child with ASD resort back to aggressive or destructive behaviours. Here’s where telehealth could be of great help. Contact the school or private therapists who might tell you whether they can offer telehealth services or at-home therapies.
5. Training the child with several tasks:
Enable your child to grow a little more practical and independent. You can achieve this by involving the child in little tasks while preparing food, getting dressed up, helping to clean, or improving communication.
You can ask the child to stir a batter, fill your jars, or help to identify and help you reach your kitchenware. Or simply let the child get used to spotting what outfit he would want for the day and dress himself up with as little help as possible. Get him to practice his speech therapy lessons or put all the toys back in their place after playtime.
6. Juggling with work and caring with therapy:
With most parents working from home during COVID, it is necessary parents take turns to take care of a child with autism. You can train the child at identifying a timer to enable a workflow.
Should you indeed want to have the child be around as you stay busy with office online, engage him in activities that help him in keeping himself calm. How about putting your child’s happy times album for him to flip through? Or simply turn his video of happy times on so that he can relate with it and remain calm throughout.
7. Ask for support or help if needed:
Ask friends or family to help you in caring for a child with special needs if you can’t go solo. Be confident that you can deal with any sort of situation your child might throw at you. Look for virtual support if you need extra help. Many counsellors are caring virtually too these days. Be part of forums where like-minded parents might give additional tips.
Caring for a child with ASD during hard times as the global pandemic can be challenging, but not impossible. The fact that parents dare to raise their child no matter how difficult he might be, goes to show that they will walk that extra mile to make it all smoother for their child. If you wanted to have those additional tips in the autism checklist for parents, the above tips will surely the wonderfully brave special children make it.
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