How to Set Up a Daily Routine for an Autistic Child

Autism, which is a bio-neurological disability that impairs a child's ability to interact and communicate with others, can be treated using many types of approaches including behavioral therapies and nutritional guidance. By establishing a daily routine for an autistic child which stimulates their connection with the outside world through these approaches, you can help them function more effectively within their specific environment.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Mental health care professional, such as a behavioral pediatrician or child psychologist

Set Up a Daily Routine for an Autistic Child

1. Determine what type of therapy you want to try as you establish a routine with the autistic child, and whether you want to focus on behavioral modification, nutritional programs or a combination of both. The websites for the National Autism Association and Autism Speaks contain many links to the various programs and strategies that have worked for other parents of autistic children (see Resources below).
2. Keep a daily notebook or journal to document the autistic child's progress during his daily routine. This will be especially helpful for your mental health care specialist to determine patterns of response for the child.
3. Establish routines with the autistic child, and stick with them. An autistic child uses routines to feel safe and secure, and by drastically altering them, you will only increase her resistance and force her to withdraw from the situation.
4. Introduce new information to an autistic child in a non-threatening way, such as using pictures instead of words. Most autistic children are extremely visually-oriented, and seem to respond more positively to visual stimuli. When you set up a daily routine that balances a steady flow of new information within familiar structures, the child may be able to process the information more readily.
5. Include plenty of tactile stimulation when you set up a daily routine for an autistic child. The use of water, sand and clay seem to be unusually effective at playtime, teaching autistic to create and improvise with their hands and focus on their sense of touch. If working with clay, however, use a non-toxic type, and discourage the child from eating it.

Tips & Warnings

• Every case of autism is unique, and there is no universal treatment or cure. If the autistic individual is not responding to a certain course of therapy, it is important not to become discouraged, and to simply try another approach.