Handling autistic children on pandemic

The pandemic has given the world a new perception, a change in daily routine. Many of us are locked inside the home with complete disruption in social life. The isolated new routines have created a mental imbalance in all of us, but affecting the neurotypical children the most. Children with autism who used to routinely visit developmental centre for various therapies are missing the opportunities. Families with autism are facing the challenges seeing the tantrums, meltdowns and new onset hyperactivity and aggression. Parents are managing these kids without support system from the therapies, while likely coping up with the personal stress as well.

Here are some tips which will help to manage these children:

1. Organise and plan things. Make a rough routine of activities that u intend your child to do in the day.
2. Children with autism are ritualistic and adhere to the routines. Try to maintain same routine as much possible. Maintain regular bed & wake up time,be watchful for screen time. But build new routines like exercise, home-work, breaks between studies etc.
3. Involve the kid in daily household activities like cleaning & drying clothes, cleaning vegetables, cleaning bathrooms, furniture etc
4. Give them time out. Take them to terrace and short evening walk with face mask on.
5. Calming activities like deep breathing, watching favorite video, listening to music can be done day to day basis.
6. Dont pressurize for academics, let learning be fun. Involve them in cooking, drawing, writing, simple craft making etc.
7. Teach children activity of daily life like brushing teeth, tying shoelaces, wearing clothes, folding clothes, watering plants etc which will improve their fine motor skills.
8. Children who can understand about pandemic can be explained about it in simple ways and teach them to wear mask, sanitize hands and to maintain social distancing if going outside home.
9. Arrange video call with other children or household members so that they get opportunity to interact with others.
10. Children who are on medication for epilepsy, hyperactivity, sleep issues etc should not miss the medication.

Contact your therapist, pediatric neurologist if there are new set of problems.