Are Schedules Good for Autism?
Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often exhibit repetitive behaviors and limited interests. Perhaps you have heard or have been advised to incorporate a daily routine into the life of your child with autism. As a parent, you may ask, “Are schedules good for autism?” Looking at it from a global perspective, at ABA Centers of Washington, we have found that structured routines in autism can be beneficial for people on the spectrum. Autism influences how individuals communicate, interact, and behave. Neurodivergent individuals process stimuli and understand the world uniquely, making adapting to change and unpredictability challenging. Thus, routines or schedules can significantly assist in their environmental adaptation.
In this blog post, we will delve into the benefits of routines for autism. We will guide you on how to create and incorporate these routines and discuss how our ABA therapy services prioritize such habits.
How Do Routines Affect Autism?
The American Psychiatric Association created the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to define the ASD diagnosis criteria, which include repetitive behaviors and restricted interests. Children with autism often favor consistency in activities, toys, and food, displaying behaviors like meticulously arranging toys, positioning food on their plates, preferring a particular tone of voice, or maintaining a consistent sleep routine. Any deviation from these preferences could induce anxiety and stress.
Routines in autism provide a sense of security, aiding in managing anxiety and uncertainty. They help individuals comprehend their surroundings and equip them for daily changes and transitions. In the following sections, we’ll explore the advantages of routines in autism.
Benefits of Autism and Daily Routines
The Nebraska Autism Spectrum Disorders Network conducted a study demonstrating the benefits of incorporating routines in autism. Such benefits include reducing meltdowns and emotional difficulties. A structured daily routine fosters independence in children with autism and enhances their overall socio-emotional health.
Here are the primary benefits of routines for individuals with autism:
- Creating Safe Environments – Routines offer uniformity, repetition, and safety for neurodiverse individuals. By maintaining consistency in places of learning, play, and study, among others, individuals with autism can more effectively adapt to their environment. This approach minimizes their preoccupation and sensory stimuli overload.
- Encouraging Adaptation to Change – Change is an inevitable part of life, and complete avoidance is impractical. A daily routine can assist children with autism in introducing minor changes in a more manageable manner. For instance, incorporating new foods into their diet, leaving home for appointments or activities, visiting locations such as a library or doctor’s office, interacting with unfamiliar people, and accommodating changes in activities are all minor disruptions that a routine can help children with autism navigate more comfortably.
- Learning New Skills – Routines in autism can enhance a child’s receptiveness, thereby promoting the acquisition of new skills and the strengthening of existing ones. A stress-free and anxiety-free mood, fostered by routines in autism, encourages learning, novel experiences, and overall well-being.
- Sense of Control and Achievement – For a child with autism, being able to follow and complete a daily routine is a significant stride toward independent and sustainable living. Routines in autism confer a sense of control and achievement through completing activities.
- Improved Relationship with Caregivers – Routines in autism can bolster the relationship between children and their caregivers. The predictability of routines can ease transitions between activities, reducing violent reactions and power struggles. By offering plans and choices, structure for autism encourages a positive attitude and focus on children’s activities throughout the day.
- Positive Attitude – As alluded to in the previous benefit, the structure provided by routines in autism mitigates drastic changes that could trigger problematic behaviors. Additionally, it enhances the cooperation and communication skills of children with autism, fostering a more positive attitude.
How Do I Make a Daily Schedule for Autism?
Before establishing structured routines in autism for your child, it’s crucial to remember that the goal of these daily schedules is to equip your child with tools and skills that foster growth and independence. When implementing a daily routine for your child with autism, consider the following aspects:
- Develop a visual schedule, such as a calendar or poster, that’s easy for all family members to understand. Emphasize the significance and purpose of each task.
- Take the time to walk your child through each step of the schedule, detailing the expectations for each part of the day. Repeat this explanation as many times as needed until your child can carry out the tasks independently.
- Establish a reward system to acknowledge the successful completion of tasks.
- Once your child has mastered the routine, gradually introduce new tasks to further their development. To avoid overwhelming your child, integrate these tasks slowly and, if necessary, remove other activities as required.
- Utilize timers on your phone to instruct your child on the appropriate duration for each task, such as bathing or brushing teeth. If these tasks exceed the set time, it could hinder the completion of other objectives.
- Ensure the schedule includes breaks and free time. If your child spends a significant amount of time in front of a screen, consider setting controls to limit this duration.
- Include activities that your child finds enjoyable. Design the schedule with vibrant colors, engaging pictures, and resources that appeal to your child.
- Consider researching the optimal ways to create visual schedules. For instance, this guide by Utah University is beneficial.
ABA Centers of Washington: ABA Therapy Supporting Routines in Autism
At ABA Centers of Washington, we understand the integral role of routines in autism. Our ABA therapy plans, whether implemented at our clinics or your home, emphasize fostering your child’s growth, learning skills, and development, all while adapting to their routine, schedule, and individual needs.
ABA therapy offers invaluable results for children and teenagers with autism. It provides them with essential life skills, including but not limited to communication, interaction, coping mechanisms, and academic progress. These skills enable individuals with autism to reinforce their capabilities and progress towards independence. To autonomously follow a routine, a child or adolescent must possess the necessary skills for successful execution – this is where ABA therapy proves to be an excellent support tool.
Reach out to us today at (877) 554-0710 or via our online form to pave the way to independence for your child!
