Safety first! Make your home a haven for your children with Autism
Given the reality that no real-world home is going to be a perfectly calm oasis in a world of strife, what can families do to promote a relaxed experience for a family member with autism? GodsOwnChild checks out a few options
Designing a home for a toddler with Autism Spectrum Disorder involves keeping two things in mind: basic safety and making allowances for their unique behaviors and psychological needs.
There are certain steps you can take to ensure that your Autistic child stays out of harm’s way in an environment that is conducive to his or her overall well-being and personality development.
With a minimal amount of fuss and money, you can turn your child's home into an Autism-friendly sanctuary where he can finally relax and progress at their own pace
Enhancing the autism-friendliness of your home
Give our children with autism a reasonable schedule that they can adhere to, at least most of the time.
It may be as easy as telling them to "Come home, change, watch TV for an hour, eat dinner, take a shower, do their schoolwork, and then go to bed."
Provide the timetable in an easily viewed and understood visual format.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH) claims that children with ASD find solace in patterns and feel secure in predictable, unchanging routines. Your child will feel more at ease and competent as a result.
Creating a quiet space for our children with Autism
Provide your youngster some alone time and space to unwind. Downtime and alone time are vitally important for many people who have autism (and those who do not!).
Overstimulating an autistic youngster may result in distressing, self-destructive actions like head banging or biting and scratching oneself.
Your youngster will be able to reassemble and refocus thanks to sensory pauses.
The best course of action when they need a time-out because they are unhappy is to lead them to a special area where they can have some peace and quiet.
Redirecting your child's attention and energy with a little period of silence will not only prevent a full-blown meltdown but taking them repeatedly to a designated area when things get out of control will eventually transform how they respond to stressful circumstances. This method has been successfully employed in applied behavior analysis therapy.
A place to relax and unwind during meltdowns
A serene atmosphere can be created in a peaceful, dimly lit space with few decorations and no rough surfaces. You can create such a sanctuary by using soft pillows, a few favorite toys, and blankets.
The difference between chaos and calm in your home can be made by designing an area with your child's specific emotional requirements in mind.
Remove smells, sounds, and lights that are really bothersome
Sure, you must use cleaning products, but you might be able to find some that have little to no smell. Certainly, your other kids can listen to music. But, they might be able to do so using headphones. Clearly, you need light in your house, but for someone with sensory issues, fluorescent lighting can be very unsettling.
Limit the use of toxic cleaners, or keep them well out of reach
A child's exposure to household cleaners is clearly dangerous. The same goes for paints, bug spray, petrol for lawnmowers, and lawn fertilizers. Each chemical in or near your home has the potential to capture your child's attention.
To lock and protect all of your chemicals, it could be a good idea to find a location in the garage that is away from your child's typical everyday setting.
Food for your Autistic child
Have favorite foods on hand so that your family member with autism may anticipate eating at least one thing they actively like.
This doesn't imply that you should "never eat anything new," but it does imply that your autistic relative can anticipate eating something satisfying and predictable.
Steps to prevent wandering
Our autistic kids are observant. Kids enjoy discovering new things, which often involves getting into things they shouldn't! Here, locks and childproofing will be helpful.
Your kid might be as cunning as a young Houdini and figure out how to open some of the easier childproof locks. If that's the case, picking more advanced locking systems is unquestionably a smart move.
Sometimes the requirement for more advanced locks extends beyond basic childproofing measures.
Around half of all children with autism wander and attempt to flee their own homes at some point, according to the National Autism Association.
protection of children with ASD from risks in the home
Are the edges of your coffee table sharp? How about the gorgeous granite island in your kitchen?
Your toddler may have already run into things clumsily, as you may have noticed. If so, hazards such as countertops, bookcases, and the dining room table could arise.
Rubber bumpers can be easily installed, and anchoring tall furniture to the wall will help to ensure that it won't tip over and fall is another option.
Water hazards
Water may be a fantastic resource for a child with autism in the right situation and a terrible one in the wrong one. Children with autism are frequently observed to be captivated by water.
The fixation may be brought on by the relaxing sensation of water surrounding the body or the tranquil sound of running water.
Although it may seem like a complete lockdown on enjoyment to use a stiff pool cover, fence the pool area, install an alarm on the gate, and lock the latch with a keyed lock, doing so could really save your child's life if you aren't watching the pool.
Teach your autistic children to be cautious around new people.
As your child gets older, they will probably answer the door or ring the bell when someone approaches. Although most people might not consider this when thinking about home security, parents of children with ASD should be aware of the potential risks involved.
The British Psychological Society claims that children with ASD are excessively trusting. According to research, they are less adept at judging a person's reliability based just on their facial expressions. Of course, the person at the door is probably simply a neighbor wishing you a good day, but you don't want to take that chance.
In addition to keeping your child safe at home, teaching them whom to trust will benefit them throughout their entire lives, even as adults, and especially if they go on to live independently.
