Strategies for a Successful Summer Break

Summer breaks may not be as kind to parents as much as they are to children looking forward to days off from school, and sleeping in. For parents of kids with ASD, it brings forth its own challenges. To help parents, we have put together some simple strategies for having peaceful and joyous family time in the summer months.

Below are some strategies for a Successful Summer Break:

Maintain your daily schedule. Though you can never replicate the structure of a school setting at home, it's good to create some sort of structure for your child even during the holidays. In the long term, a daily structure ensures the child is at ease and cooperative, which is a win-win for all concerned. So even if you wish to relax the schedule and let everyone have it easy, It's better not to.

Make a visual chart of the daily schedule. Children in general, especially autistic children like structure and thrive on it. A visual chart or a chart depicting the day's activities needs to be created and pasted on the wall (at the child's eye level) to reinforce the schedule, beginning with the morning and ending with bedtime. This ensures that the child follows it daily. Making the child a part of structuring the schedule will ensure success on this front.

Spend time outdoors. Certain children with sensory issues or issues with social communication don't like the outdoors and would prefer to be in the comfort of their homes. However, if possible stepping outside for a walk or a preferred activity such as blowing bubbles or writing on the driveway with chalk is a great way to make outside fun and comfortable. Getting kids outdoors to indulge in light physical activity or day camps is always a great idea. It could be going for a light trek, a splash in the pool, learning to ride a cycle, playing on swings in the community park or walking your family pet in the garden. Burn the energy with physical activities and soak in the much-needed Vitamin D.

Look for support. Find professionals who have experience in taking care of children with ASD to give you the much-needed respite. The much-needed "me time" will provide you with free time for pending tasks, hobbies, socializing, rest, or tackling other issues. If finding such a person isn't easy or expensive, then draw up a list of people in your social circle who can fulfill this role. Reach out to them to schedule their availability.

Replicate home routine when traveling on vacation when possible. If you are visiting relatives/friends at their homes, then prepare them in advance so that the holidays go smoothly for all. Alternatively, renting out an Airbnb in contrast to a hotel is an innovative idea while on vacation. This way you can replicate certain aspects of the home ambiance and routine while on holiday. Look for Airbnbs near convenience stores and other necessary facilities. Plus, the stress of being in hotels and eating in noisy public restaurants is done away with.

Identify the child's stressors. Summer break can present new activities, and people in authority in camps/activity classes, etc that may cause the child to feel stressed. Have open, empathic, and clear conversations with your child about their fears and anxieties. The goal is to teach them that anxiety in new situations is expected but with time it will fade away.

Be prepared for tough incidents. The best-laid plans can go awry at any given point. So, it's always good to have a strategy to deal with it. It can happen anytime, anywhere. Losing your cool and shouting won’t help matters as you know. Remain resolute in a calm, firm, and consistent manner. Plus, be kind to yourself, and don't be self-critical if they happen.