Quiet time and time-out are strategies to guide children away from challenging behaviour. They involve not giving children attention for a short period of time and removing children from interesting activities.
A sensory chill out space is an area that has been created to help autistic children cope with the sensory overload that they face every day. The name might imply that they are reserved for only children who are on the spectrum - but really everyone, especially children, need an opportunity and a place to calm down.
Let's start by explaining “quiet time” – this is a time when the child gets to play (or just be) without any verbal prompts or external noise. In fact it is not just a “time to play”. Quiet time should be allowed for the child to just be surrounded by quiet.
Special Time is a technique which helps a child understand exactly when they will receive undivided attention, as a means of reducing anxiety laden attention seeking behaviors, or as a means of improving relationships when the child is defiant or alienated.
Quiet corners create a space where children can retreat to, unwind and relax. For children on the spectrum, these spaces can be very important to have available at a playgroup. It allows the child somewhere to retreat to and unwind when they need a break from the excitement.
It's not unusual for a child's bedroom to be the most brightly-decorated room in the house. But for children with autism, soft, serene colors are the better choice. Soft blues and grays are the most popular choices for bedroom walls, but a pale shade of your child's favorite color is also an excellent option.
A calm down corner is a designated space in a home or classroom with the sole intent of being a safe space for a child to go to when they feel their emotions are running too high and they need to regain their emotional and physical control.
Research says that autistic children spend more time on screen than children who do not have autism. About 64.2 percent of young adults with ASD spend their free time on TV, and video games and 13.2 percent of young adults with ASD spend time on social media sites, emails, and chatting.
Hobbies such as collecting stamps, playing cards or board games, drawing and photography can also provide opportunities for enjoyment, as well as increased self-confidence and motivation individuals on the spectrum.
The key is to make sure that your quiet time is intentional and with little distractions. This means, put away your phone, don't check your email, refrain from having conversations, and stay away from loud and noisy places.
Autistic people can often have trouble sleeping. There are a range of reasons for this including difficulties with relaxing or winding down and irregular melatonin levels.
Level 3 refers to those who require the most substantial support and is often referred to as low functioning autism, these individuals also tend to have an intellectual disability. They display the most severe symptoms of autism and usually have the hardest time socializing and communicating with many being nonverbal.
As you've seen, living spaces can become extremely cluttered when a person has trouble parting with his or her favorite “stuff.” It's also very common for people with autism to become extremely distressed if others rearrange or throw away their items.
Examples of visual schedules you may use:
Morning: breakfast, get dressed, brush teeth, pack backpack. Evening: homework, tv time, dinner, bath, story, bed. School: circle time, free play, story, snack, recess, craft, gym, home. Weekend: quiet play, game, lunch, park, grandma's house, home, dinner.
All people, regardless of age, lifestyle, or background, benefit from having an established schedule in their lives. Routines are particularly helpful for children with autism due to their repetitive patterns of behavior, activities, and hobbies.
Because autism is a developmental difference, people with autism can often find it difficult to learn and manage everyday tasks, like taking a shower, getting dressed, brushing their teeth and packing their school bag; or daily chores like making their bed, or setting the table.
They usually prefer to play alone and have challenges working together with others. Various types of therapy are available to help kids with autism and their families to play together and build relationships.
For people on the autism spectrum, the world is a bewildering place. With oversensitive sensory systems, they battle to process the maelstrom of information flowing into their brains. Often the result is sensory overload, leading to signature behaviours such as tantrums, anxiety and social withdrawal.
Every autistic person is different, but sensory differences, changes in routine, anxiety, and communication difficulties are common triggers.
Be sure to praise your son's efforts – both in asking a question and then listening to the response. At the same time, have patience and take small steps that encourage success. For instance, consider prompting the conversation partner beforehand to keep his response short in the beginning.
Find sensory tools that can comfort a child at times of stress. These may include squeezy toys, weighted blankets, a calming video or book, a swing set, or even a pet. If a meltdown occurs, allow your child the time and space to calm themselves down and learn to self-regulate.